Asian players dominate the podium as the curtain draws on WUC Golf 2018

LUBAO, PHILIPPINES — Japanese Daiki Imano sizzled with a bogey-free six-under 66 to cap his final round and claimed the victory at the 2018 FISU World University Golf Championship at the Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club on Saturday.

Imano tamed the golf course with six birdies including a gimmie birdie on par-5 18^th to beat three-day leader Henry Tschopp of Switzerland in come-from-behind fashion.

“My brief stay in the Philippines was made memorable with my victory today. I am really happy with the result,” said the 21-year old Imano to complete a round of nines in another scorching day built on 33-33 for a tournament total of 278.Counting his early 72, 68, and 72, the rank three amateur golfer back home birdied the par-four No. 6 within 16 feet to highlight his remarkable round.

 2018 Men’s Individual Winners at the FISU World University Golf Championship, from left: Yuto Katsuragawa, Daiki Imano, and Henry Tschopp

Compatriot Yuto Katsuragawa, a member of Manila Southwoods that played in 71^st PAL Interclub last March, trailed by two strokes to finish at second with an aggregate 280 on rounds of 74-70-67-69.

Tschopp stumbled on par-4 No. 16 with a double bogey after losing the ball on the right fairway. The 19-year old Swiss national player from Zurich made five birdies and four bogeys for 74 and a four-round total of 281.

The double bogey on the 16^th hole cost him the victory after leading the tournament for three days with a decent round on his first appearance at the par-72 layout designed by golf architect Mike Singgaran, a course intricately carved inside the vast 495-hectare land.

“I came here to win and not to get third, that’s why I tried my best. I started well on the front nine up until the 16th hole. But, nevertheless, it was an awesome week and great tournament,” said Tschopp.

Jaehun Choi of Korea landed at fourth with 283 followed by Japanese Taisei Shimizu.

The Philippines’ Ruperto Zaragosa, runner-up in the recently concluded National Pro-Am held at Splendido, trailed eight-stroke behind the leader at 286 to share the sixth spot with South African Kyle Raymond De Beer.

The individual women’s winners from the FISU World University Golf Championship 2018, from left: Minji Kang, Dasom Ma, and Yeonjung Son 

The Korean women’s team, meanwhile, dominated the individual category with a 1-2-3 finish as well bagged the team trophy title with 567. Dasom Ma carded 282-aggregate, five strokes ahead of first runner-up Minji Kang, 287, and second runner-up Yeonjung Son, 290.

France came in at second position with 591 followed by Chinese Taipei at third with 592 in the women’s team event. Japan won comfortably by nine strokes over Korea, 553-562, in men’s team competition

Sixty-eight golfers played at the 72-hole championship, sanctioned by FISU and organized by the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP).