Taichi Teshima of Japan won the Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open on Sunday, earning a place in the 144thOpen at St Andrews along with Australian Scott Strange and Shinji Tomimura and Tadahiro Takayama of Japan.
A final round three-under-par 69 at JFE Setonaikai Golf Club took Teshima to 15-under-par for the championship and gave him a two shot victory over Strange who finished as runner-up. The victory is the 46-year-old’s eighth win on the Japan Golf Tour and he is now set to make his third appearance at The Open after playing in 2001 at Royal Lytham & St Annes and 2002 at Muirfield.
Strange carded a one-under-par 71 on Sunday to close out the championship on 13-under-par. The 38-year-old from Perth has won twice on both the European Tour and the Asian Tour and has now secured a second appearance at The Open after making his debut at Royal Birkdale in 2008.
Tomimura carded his second consecutive five-under-par 67 in the final round to finish on 11-under-par alongside compatriot Takayama. The 24-year-old from Okinawa earned his best finish on the Japan Golf Tour this week and will make his Major Championship debut at the home of golf.
Taichi Teshima, Scott Strange, Tadahiro Takayama and Shinji Tomimura qualify for The Open.
Takayama posted a two-under-par 70 on Sunday to secure his fourth start in The Open. The five-time Japan Tour winner played in the 2011 Open at Royal St George’s and the 2012 Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes with his best finish in golf’s oldest championship coming at St Andrews in 2005 where he finished tied 23rd.
Key quotes:
Taichi Teshima
“It has been 13 years since I last played in The Open. The Old Course at St Andrews is really very special, it has such a great history and I am really looking forward to playing there in July.”
Scott Strange
“I have played the Old Course a few times at the Dunhill Links but never The Open. Last time in 2008, I played under the duress of my sister passing away so I don’t really recall too much. For this trip though I’ve already had my mate over there texting me all week saying ‘you have got to get into The Open because I’m on your bag,’ so I’m really looking forward to it.”
The Open Qualifying Series continues today with three places on offer at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland.
The 144th Open will be played from 16-19 July 2015 at St Andrews.
* Story and picture thanks to R & A.
