Asian Tour Book 2024

HOT-TO-TROT HIRATA SHOWS HIS CLASS JAPANESE STAR DENIES FAST CHARGING SMYTH BY ONE SHOT Kensei Hirata [left and right] won in Japan the week before claiming the Shinhan Donghae title. K ensei Hirata arrived at the Shinhan Donghae Open enjoying a rich vein of form and lived up to the billing as the one to watch by winning the 40th edition of the revered Korean event. Following rounds of 71, 67, and a stunning 62, the 23-year-old from Osaka closed with a six-under-par 66 and finished on a spectacular 22-under total at the Ocean Course at Club72 in Incheon, close to the international airport. However, it wasn’t exactly a walk in the park for the Japanese star, who had won the Fujisankei Classic on the Japan Golf Tour the week before. It was one of four titles he secured during the 2024 season, and one of three he won in the space of four weeks. The challenge for Hirata in the tri- sanctioned tournament, with Japan and Korea, came in the form of Australia’s Travis Smyth, who finished with a brilliant 64, but in the end, it could only secure him a runner-up spot one shot behind the champion. The popular man-bunned Sydneysider started the day three shots behind Hirata but caught up with the leader by the turn with a dream run of eight birdies in his opening nine. However, even as Smyth was mounting the charge, Hiratamanaged tomake three birdies and an eagle, on the par-five fifth, and did not let his rival go past him. Both players were at 21-under as they started the back nine, but birdies dried up for Smyth, while Hirata picked up shots on the 11th, 13th and 15th to give himself enough breathing space to have the luxury of making two bogies coming in. Japan’s Kosuke Suzuki, who started the day sharing the lead with Hirata, ended in sole third place, four shots behind the champion. Korean Minkyu Kim (68), who won the Kolon Korea Open presented by ELORD earlier in the season, finished in fourth place, one behind Suzuki. It’s always difficult to follow a super- low round with another. Hirata must have kept his eyes on Smyth’s charge but 82 40 TH SH I NHA N DONGHA E OPEN O C E A N CO U R S E AT C L U B 7 2 S E P T EM B E R 5 - 8 | P R I Z E MON E Y: K RW 1 , 4 0 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 ( A P P ROX I MAT E LY U S $ 9 8 0 , 0 0 0 )