Saitama, Tokyo, September 22: Japanese star Yuta Ikeda put himself in contention for a 20th career victory after shooting a third round five-under-par 66 at the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup on Saturday.
Ikeda, the world number 98th, has won every year since 2009 and is now in position to secure his first title in 2018 after totalling 12-under-par 201 at the Musashi Country Club, Sasai Course.
He will have to fend off the challenge from Korean rising star Yikeun Chang, who eagled the 17th hole from 12 feet to trail by a single shot at the JP¥150 million (approximately US$1.35 million) event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO).
Overnight leader Hiroshi Iwata slipped to a share of third place despite recording a hole-in-one on the par-three ninth hole. He returned with a 71 to tie with Tour rookie Kurt Kitayama (68) on matching 205s, four shots back of the leader.
Ranked 42nd on the Asian Tour’s Habitat for Humanity Standings, the 32-year-old Ikeda opened with a birdie before surging ahead with four straight birdies from the 12th hole.
Ikeda, who was unbeaten at the EurAsia Cup earlier this year, took full advantage of his sharp approach shots, missing only one green-in-regulation.
Chang, the 2016 Asian Tour Qualifying School winner, put in a resolute performance under the watchful eye of his father, whose putting tip earlier in the week has given him an extra spring in his step.
Did you know?
- Ikeda produced his first bogey-free round in 54 holes. He has won 19 times in Japan, one of which was a co-sanctioned event with the Asian Tour in 2016.
- His iron play has been his strongest part of his game as he has missed only nine greens-in-regulation so far this week.
- Ikeda was ranked 37th at the end of the 2017 season after winning three times on the JGTO.
- He was one of the star performers for Team Asia against Team Europe in the biennial EurAsia Cup. Despite Team Asia’s defeat, Ikeda was unbeaten and helped his team secure three points.
- Chang is searching for his first victory on the Asian Tour. His best result so far this year is a tied second place at The 37th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship on home soil.
- He won his National Open last year and one more tournament on home soil. He earned an Asian Tour card after winning the 2016 Asian Tour Qualifying School.
- Kitayama eagled the 17th hole from six feet which put him in contention for a first Asian Tour title.
- He is playing competitively for the first time in Japan. His parents are Japanese but he was born in the United States. He occasionally visits family in Japan but does not speak the language.
- Former PGA Tour player and overnight leader Iwata aced the 207-yard par-three ninth hole. It was the week’s first hole-in-one.
Player quotes:
Yuta Ikeda (Jpn) – Third Round 66 (-5), Total 12-under-par 201
If I win tomorrow, it will be number 20 but I would like to play without thinking about it. I do not want to put too much pressure on myself. I’m obviously very satisfied with my score and performance so far. I just kept giving myself good opportunities and went on to play the next hole without putting too much give myself expectations.
Yikeun Chang (Kor) – Third Round 64 (-7), Total 11-under-par 202
It was fantastic. On the back nine, I had 12 putts and I holed all of it. I told myself to keep the ball in play because it will be very hard if you miss the fairway here. On the back nine, I happened to hole everything and that made things easier.
I’m lucky my tee shots went straight today (laughs). If I do the same tomorrow, then I have a good chance to get the trophy. Coming into this week, I fixed something with my dad and now I’m rolling it perfectly. He told me to release the putter and I’m putting great right now.
Throughout my career, my dad has taught me golf. I have a coach in the United States but my dad knows me very well so it is nice to have him here with me. If the weather stays like this and if you can find the fairways, you will have a lot of birdie opportunities.
Eagle on 17: I hit the perfect drive and it is a difficult fairway to find. I had about 250 yards to the pin and hit my hybrid to about 12 feet.
Kurt Kitayama (Usa) – Third Round 68 (-3), Total eight-under-par 205
It was a solid round. I had one loose driver on 11 but for the most part, I felt really good. That eagle on 17 was good. I hit a good drive there and I was in a good spot to hit my four iron to six feet which I converted. That will give me something nice to think about in my room.
I didn’t have many good looks even though I wasn’t hitting it close. On the front nine, I had two tap in birdies and I hit it close on 17. Other than that, I didn’t have good opportunities. Maybe I was trying to force myself to hit it closer to the hole.
Scores after round 3 of the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup being played at the par 71, 7060 Yards Musashi GC course (am – denotes amateur):
201 – Yuta IKEDA (JPN) 69-66-66.
202 – Yikeun CHANG (KOR) 70-68-64.
205 – Kurt KITAYAMA (USA) 67-70-68, Hiroshi IWATA (JPN) 65-69-71.
206 – Adilson DA SILVA (BRA) 69-70-67, Yuki INAMORI (JPN) 65-72-69.
207 – Scott VINCENT (ZIM) 67-74-66, John CATLIN (USA) 69-72-66, Tomoharu OTSUKI (JPN) 72-68-67, Sanghyun PARK (KOR) 68-71-68, Rikuya HOSHINO (JPN) 69-70-68, Shaun NORRIS (RSA) 70-69-68, Danthai BOONMA (THA) 65-74-68, Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN) 67-71-69, Kenichi KUBOYA (JPN) 67-70-70.
209 – Justin HARDING (RSA) 67-74-68.
210 – Johannes VEERMAN (USA) 71-72-67, Ben LEONG (MAS) 73-69-68, Ryosuke KINOSHITA (JPN) 69-70-71, Daijiro IZUMIDA (JPN) 63-75-72.
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