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Keita Nakajima overcame a nervy finish as he won his maiden DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open on just his 11th start.
The 23-year-old Japanese, who spent a record 87 weeks at the top of the World Amateur Golf Ranking before turning professional in 2022, started the day at DLF Golf & Country Club four strokes ahead and extended that advantage to nine strokes with ten holes to play.
Four birdies on the front nine contributed to his healthy lead, with just a single bogey on the par four seventh. He parred the first four holes on his back nine before a double bogey on the 14th saw his lead cut to five strokes.
Nakajima recovered with a birdie on the 15th to move six strokes ahead and he then bogeyed each of his last three holes to sign for a one over par 73, finishing with a 17 under par total, four strokes clear of India’s Veer Ahlawat, Sebastian Söderberg of Sweden and American Johannes Veerman.
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“I’m very happy,” said Nakajima. “Winning here on DP World Tour for the first time is a new feeling all in itself, but right now just very happy.
“The win definitely gives me a lot of confidence in myself and hoping now to take what I did this week and turn it into even more wins in the future.”
The victory was his fourth in the space of just ten months, adding to three wins on the Japan Golf Tour in 2023 which saw him top the Order of Merit and earn playing rights for the 2024 Race to Dubai.
This is also the third win in seven months on the DP World Tour by players from Japan as he joins Open de France champion Ryo Hisatsune and Rikuya Hoshino, who won the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in February, in the winner’s circle.
Keita Nakajima – 2021 Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion
As an amateur, the Japanese superstar claimed the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in 2021 when it was hosted at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, his last victory as an amateur before turning professional.
Söderberg and Veerman carded matching five under par 67s to share second along with Ahlawat, who carded an eagle on the last in front of a raucous crowd on his home course to join them on 13 under par.
There is a one week break for the DP World Tour now before the first major of the year, The Masters, at Augusta National Golf Club.
Main Image: Getty Images
