Kanaya Storms His Way To Four Shot Success In Oman

1 year ago by Comments Off on Kanaya Storms His Way To Four Shot Success In Oman

…. Muscat, Oman

Japan’s Takumi Kanaya has brilliantly stormed his way to success in the inaugural International Series Oman at the Al Mouq course in Muscat.

Kanaya, 24, won a fourth pro career title and a first outside his native Japan with scores of 69, 71, 67 and a closing 71 in continuing windy conditions to win by four shots on the course laid out along the Gulf of Oman shoreline.

Kanaya burst onto the world stage as an amateur, and emerging from the smoke and haze from serious bushfire that week, in finishing third at the 2019 Australian Open in Sydney, an effort that earning him a place in the 2020 Open Championship.

He returned to Japan and in November that same year, Kanaya won on the Japan Tour with victory in the Visa Taiheiyo Masters.

Kanaya turned pro late in 2020 and quickly celebrated a second ‘home’ Tour win with success in the 2020 Dunlop Phoenix Open, and he made it three Japan Tour trophies winning the 2021 Token Homemate Cup.

Now, after three wins in the Land of the Rising Sun, Kanaya has won in Oman and with victory set to lift the current World No. 169 to around No. 117 on the rankings when adjusted Monday am (UK time) while he earned virtual three-year Asian Tour exemption winning just in his second event of his new season.

And there is special reason for GolfByTourMiss to celebrate Kanaya’s success your author joined Kanaya in Wednesday’s official pre-tournament pro-am.

 

Bernie (Red Shirt) with Oman champion Takumi Kanaya during Wednesday’s pro am here at Al Mouj

“It was good playing with Ronan, Ben and yourself in the pro-am”, said Kanaya to me in English, and in his quietly-spoken voice.

“It was a very relaxing day and I very much enjoyed everyone’s company, so I am going to give you each the credit in helping me win this week (smiling)”.

American Berry Henson (70) and Thai Sodam Kaewkanjana (72) shared second at six-under at six-under par and one clear of England’s Steve Lewton, who grabbed one of just 17 eagles over the four days on the course in producing a closing 71.

England’s Steve Lewton signed for a 71 to finish fourth.



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