Tournament article

The Crowns 2019

Katsumasa Miyamoto becomes the first champion of Reiwa Era at 60th The Crowns

The Final Round at this year's The Crowns was a fierce and dramatic battle. There were more than 10 players within 2 shots from the leaders. One of them, Shugo Imahira, the Order of Merit titleholder of last season made a Sunday back nine charge and became leader at once, but unfortunate bogey at the 18 made him a club house co-leader with 8 under par.

It was left for Katsumasa Miyamoto and Akio Sadakata in the final group to match that challenge. Katsumasa started out with double bogey, and he couldn't pay back that lost until 2 straight birdies at 11 and 12 and became a leader again. But with the bogey on 14, he went down to 8 under, as a co-leader with Shugo.

As for Akio Sadakata, he started off with a miracle chip in birdie, and made so many long par saving putts to keep himself in contention. He also bogeyed 14 and got 1 shot behind, but a marvelous long birdie on 17 and got him up to 8 under, and then 3 players were tied as co-leaders and Katsumasa and Akio faced the final 18.

There, the ending for the 2 were heaven and hell. Akio drove his tee shot into the right side rough. He aimed to the pin on his second shot which was short and ended up by the deep rough of green side bunkers. From there, his approach shot couldn't stay on the green. He was short on his 4th shot, eventually double bogeyed the 18, plunged to 6 under total in tied to 5th place.

On the other hand, Katsumasa made a miracle. His tee shot was safe on fairway, and his second shot found the green, and sat left side of the pin. His long birdie putt was on the line and made a last one needed roll and fell in the cup as a winning birdie.

"I just can't believe I could win like this. It still feels like a dream" he commented at the awarding ceremony. Katsumasa added his victory number to 12 with a dramatic story to go along with it.

His fellow "Team Serizawa", including Leader Serizawa himself and so many the players were waiting for him by the 18th green to congratulate.
"I was so happy, and I was about to cry."

His family was there too, and his sons praised their father saying "Dad, you are great!"
He promised his boys yesterday at dinner saying, "I will add 1 more score tomorrow."

He started off with a double bogey, but he came through with that promise with the great winning birdie putt on 18th and showed his boys that "a man does keeps his promises."