Asian Tour: Higa holds nerve, charging field to claim second Shinhan Donghae Open title
Japan’s Kazuki Higa finishes a shot ahead of the field in Korea, while Taichi Kho ends the tournament in a tie for fourth
Kazuki Higa held off a charging field on Sunday to claim the Shinhan Donghae Open for a second time, just about keeping himself together in a nerve-racking finish that went right down to the wire.
A final round four-under-par 68 gave the Japanese 30-year-old a one-shot victory over Canadian Richard T Lee, and Asian Tour order of merit leader Scott Vincent.
Thaichi Kho finished in a tie for fourth with Danthai Boonma, a stroke further back on 16 under after a final round of 68 at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club.
Higa, who also won the tournament in 2022, had looked in complete control, birdieing his first four holes, but a fifth at the par-5 seventh was his last of the day, and it was all pars from then on, aside from a dropped shot at the par-3 13.
Lee was only a shot back going down the last, having had his final birdie at 10, while Vincent finished birdie, birdie to lift himself out of the chasing pack.
“Very relieved to win,” Higa said. “It got a little tough. There were a few missed shots and a lot of pressure on the back nine. I am glad my game held up. It’s the first time I have won an event twice.”