New young star beaome the first winner of the inaugural Japan Players Championship. Naoyuki Kataoka has accomplished to win on his challenge on the Tour.

Naoyuki received the winner's trophy from the Tournament Chairman, Ryuko Tokimatsu and made the speech thanking the great effort done by the Players' Committee as they have accomplished to make this tournament on their own.
"I am very grateful for what they have given to us, and I am so happy and excited that I was able to take the chance given to me and make best of it by winning my first victory."

The top of the leaderboard was packed at the Sunday round. Takumi Kanaya started off making 4 straight birdie. Naoyuki also made his Sunday charge.
"Since Komei Oda in the same group was playing so well, I told myself to catch up. That helped me to make 3 straight birdies of my own."

In the afternoon, strong wind was swirling on the course, but Naoyuki's strategey worked as he fought the windy situation with low trajectory shots. On 17th Par 3, he missed his tee shot and got in the deep rough, but he came through with minimum damage with a bogey.
"That recovery gave me a bit of a breathing space and I was able to finish with a par."
When Naoyuki finished, 5 players were tied at the top with 15 under.

He went to the practice range to prepare for possible playoff.
"But I was not focused, and I just pretended that I was practicing."

When he went by the 18th to see how the other co-leaders were doing, every other player started to get into trouble and slipped away from contention.
"I just couldn't believe what was happening. It still hasn't hit me that I have won."

He is from the same university as Hideki Matsuyama but, "I had chance to see him, but didn't have the courage to talk with him. Takumi Kanaya is 1 grade younger than me, but he is above the clouds to me. I am really grateful that Players' Committee has given us this great tournament and gave me chance to win. I will try not to make this just a fluke and win several more times."

To win on his 4th tournament is 3rd fastest following Hideki Matsuyama and Takumi Kanaya. Today was Mother's Day and Naoyuki said, "My mother has drove me back and forth from the tournaments and made nutritious meals for me. I want to call her and let her know I have won."