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Hisatsune covered the daunting back nine at the 2018 Ryder Cup venue in just 30 shots to card a closing 66 and secure his maiden DP World Tour title with a winning total of 14-under-par.
The exciting 21-year-old prospect finished two shots clear of Smith and Denmark’s Jeff Winther, who had set the clubhouse target thanks to a closing 65 which included a superb birdie on the 18th.
“It feels unreal,” Hisatsune told Sky Sports. “For me, I didn’t think I would win, but I just won! I’m feeling delighted, it’s my first win, I’m so happy. I fly back to Japan tomorrow. Maybe in business class, I don’t know!
“The front nine I did not play well, but the back nine I played very well. I think this was because I wanted to win.”
Hisatsune began the day four shots off the lead shared by Smith and Ewen Ferguson and quickly found himself six behind as Smith birdied the 1st and 2nd, while Ferguson and Japan’s Kazuki Higa got off to nightmare starts.
Ferguson putted across the 1st green and into the water to run up a double bogey and then dropped two more shots on the next after finding more water off the tee.
“I’m feeling delighted, it’s my first win, I’m so happy. I fly back to Japan tomorrow. Maybe in business class, I don’t know!” – Ryo Hisatsune.
Higa bogeyed the 1st and followed Ferguson into the water on the 2nd to make a triple bogey and effectively end his chances, but Smith was unable to build on the massive lead he had been gifted.
Bogeys on the 4th, 8th and 11th allowed the chasing pack to close in and it was Hisatsune who finally overhauled the Englishman, making birdies on the 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 17th to set an unassailable target.
Min Woo Lee’s weekend struggles continued with a 75, including a triple bogey at the 12th, to finish on seven-over in joint 64th place.
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