TOKYO,September 29, 2013 (AFP) - Japan's young star Masahiro Kawamura outshone Koreans Y.E. Yang and Park Sung-Jjoon to achieve his first career victory at the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open on Sunday.
The 20-year-old made light of a two-shot deficit with a battling four-under-par 67 to claim a one-shot win over Park, who returned with a 70, at the 150 million yen ($1.5 million) event.
Yang settled for third after returning with a 69. Liang Wen-chong (68) of China, Australia's Brad Kennedy (70) and Akio Sadakata (71) of Japan finished a further two shots back, tied for fourth.
Kawamura achieved a sensational back nine highlighted by important birdies on 17 and 18 to end the event on nine-under-par 275.
Victory was sweet after a thumb injury earlier in the year resulted in seven missed cuts in nine appearances on home soil.
"This win is really big. Obviously it is the biggest thing to happen in my career," said Kawamura in comments supplied by the organisers of the Osaka event.
"Now I get to play in Japan and on the Asian Tour as well. I'm sure it will brighten my future and help me improve," he said after pocketing a winner's cheque of $306,779.
Park needed a birdie on the last to force a playoff but misjudged his 10-foot putt. The Korean said the turning point came when he three-putted for bogey on 16 and dropped another shot on the next hole.
Final scores:
275 - Masahiro Kawamura (JPN) 69-68-71-67
276 - Park Sung-Joon (KOR) 71-67-68-70
277 - Y.E. Yang (KOR) 71-68-69-69
279 - Liang Wen-chong (CHN) 73-71-67-68, Brad Kennedy (AUS) 72-66-71-70, Akio Sadakata (JPN) 75-65-68-71
281 - Wade Ormsby (AUS) 72-67-71-71, Kazuhiro Yamashita (JPN) 73-67-70-71
282 - Lee Kyoung-Hoon (KOR) 70-73-69-70