Mizuno Makes it Two

Shinichi earns second MacGregor Hong Kong Junior Close title with play-off win over Terrance Ng; Tiffany Chan eases to girls' victory

Winners Shinichi Mizuno and Tiffany ChanShinichi Mizuno's year just keeps getting better and better.
The 17-year-old West Island School student added the MacGregor Hong Kong Junior Close title to his ever-growing list of achievements thanks to a sudden-death victory over Terrence Ng at Fanling in late April.
Mizuno, who earned a spot in this December's UBS Hong Kong Open after victory at the Men's Close Championship over the Lunar New Year, birdied the first play-off hole at the New Course to claim the win after finishing tied with Ng on a two-day total of 142 (two-over-par). Overnight leader Liu Lok-tin, who started the day with a one-shot advantage after a stellar 68 in the opening round, faded to a 78 and had to settle for third spot.
"It feels great to get my title back," said Mizuno, who won this event, also in a play-off, in 2009. "This is the last year I'm eligible for the Junior Close, so it's a nice way to finish – and having won the Men's Close earlier this year, it's a great double to have."
Mizuno didn't have everything go his way however. On the 11th hole of regulation play, and with his ball under a tree, the Nagoya-born Mizuno elected to play the shot left-handed, but somehow managed to strike his golf bag with the ball, thereby incurring a one-shot penalty. The ensuing double-bogey narrowed his advantage and let Ng, who was round in a best-of-the-week 66, back in the frame. Mizuno responded superbly though; a pitching-wedge to within a foot of the flag in the play-off sealed the victory. (Cont..)

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