Kensei Hirata managed a 1-under 71 Sunday to complete a wire-to-wire victory at the Japan PGA Championship for his first major title and second overall on the JGTO Tour.
Hirata became the youngest Japan PGA Championship winner after World War II at 22 years, 246 days, with an 11-under 277 total, two strokes ahead of Taiga Semikawa and Takumi Kanaya, at Eniwa Country Club in Eniwa, Hokkaido.
The Osaka Prefecture native carded five birdies, four of them coming between Nos. 12 and 17, against four bogeys in the final round en route to earning a five-year exemption and 30 million yen ($213,000) in prize money.
South Korea's Ryu Hyun Woo finished alone in fourth at 8 under. Keita Nakajima and Ryo Ishikawa were among four players who shared fifth place a shot further back.
In May, Hirata picked up the first win of his professional career at the Mizuno Open.
