STUNNING WIN FOR KOBORI

                                                                                  By NEVILLE IDOUR

21 year old Canterbury Amateur golfer Kazuma Kobori has stunned the world’s best amateurs with a sensational win at the 121st Western Amateur Championships in Illinois, USA. First played in 1899 it is the world’s third oldest amateur championship after the British Amateur in 1885 and the US Amateur in 1895.

It is renowned for being the toughest test in amateur golf. 156 players from across the world face four rounds of strokeplay followed by matchplay for the top 16 players and four wins to emerge the ultimate winner. Past champions include Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.

Kobori recorded rounds of 69,69,72,65 to be tied ninth in the top 16 to progress. His final round was crucial as with nine holes left he was three shots outside the top 16. However a stunning five birdies in the last seven holes including 17 and 18 saw him into the matchplay.

Kobori’s first match was a nerve tingler with it requiring two extra holes before Kobori prevailed. He then won his quarter final 2 up and enjoyed a short 6 and 5 win in the semi final against US Mid Amateur Champion Matthew McLean, of Northern Ireland. He was able to get some rest and felt great in the afternoon, while his final opponent would take an hour longer for his semi final win.

His opponent was Christiaan Maas (South Africa) and this first ever final between two southern hemisphere players was gripping and not decided until the final green. On the first hole Maas holed out from a bunker for a miracle birdie but Kobori responded with a 25 foot curling birdie to match it.

Kobori then went two up before Maas came back to lead by one after the 10th. Kobori evened after a brilliant up and down birdie from a deep bunker on 12. Still even after, 16 Maas tee shot on 17 came to rest behind a tree allowing Kobori to go one up with a regulation par.

Standing on the 18th tee Kobori saw the green surrounded by fans and proceded to provide a final highlight for the throng. Finding the fairway, his lofted shot to the green left him a 15 foot putt for birdie and the win. “I gave it a shot and it started to dribble towards the hole. It stayed on line and a foot from the hole I knew it was going in. To win a tournament that I only thought I could be a small part of is an incredible feeling” said Kobori.

Kobori walked the putt into the hole and pumped his fist in the air, joining 2008 winner Danny Lee as the second Kiwi to win the George R. Thorne Trophy. This puts him in good stead for the US Amateur Championships from August 14th to 20th.

With this win Kobori has vaulted to the top of the Elite Amateur Cup standings and earned the season long title. “I missed every cut in the series last year but made every cut this year and to finish it off with a win is incredible.” He also has earned an exemption into the PGA Tour’s Bermuda Championship from November 9-12 plus two Korn Ferry events next season.