Tetsuji Hiratsuka captured the first victory of his 10-year career on the JGTO tour when he closed out with a 16-under-par 264 and a three-stroke advantage over second-place Toshimitsu Izawa at the Nippon Series JT Cup on Sunday.
Tetsuji Hiratsuka celebrates after winning the Nippon Series JT Cup in Tokyo.
Izawa secured his first money title in two years and second overall with total earnings (domestic and overseas) of over 135 million yen, while defending champion Shingo Katayama had to settle for fourth after a 20th-place finish in the season finale at Tokyo Yomiuri Country Club.
On Sunday, Hiratsuka carded three birdies in a bogey-free round of 3-under 67 to earn the 30 million yen top prize money after shooting 66-68-63 through the first three rounds. The victory also guaranteed the 32-year-old a seed on the Japanese circuit for the next three years.
Izawa sank four of his day's six birdies before the turn with a pair of bogeys en route to a 67 while Hiroyuki Fujita, who finished third a further shot back, and David Smail of New Zealand, who was fourth, matched each other in rounds of 66.