Japan's Kensei Hirata managed to fend off a determined Travis Smyth to clinch the Asian Tour's Shinhan Donghae Open by a single stroke on Sunday, marking his second consecutive victory. The 23-year-old Hirata, fresh off his win at the Fujisankei Classic on the Japan Golf Tour last weekend, delivered a final round of six-under-par 66 at the Ocean Course at Club72 in Incheon, culminating in a 22-under-par total of 266.
Despite a bogey on the final hole, Hirata's performance was sufficient to edge out the surging Australian Smyth, who began his round with an astonishing streak of seven consecutive birdies, briefly tying for the lead. Smyth continued his remarkable run with another birdie on the ninth, carding an incredible 28 on the front nine. He finished with an eight-under 64 and a 21-under total, parring every hole on the back nine.
Japan's Kosuke Suzuki, who started the day tied for the lead with Hirata, shot a 70 to secure third place at 18-under.
"I didn't think I would win early in the round, so this is a surprise and an honor," said Hirata, who joins three other Japanese players to have won the tournament, which was celebrating its 40th edition. "I tried to play my own game. Even if I had seen Travis playing well on the leaderboard, I would have focused on what I was doing."
Hirata kept pace with Smyth's blistering start by making an eagle and three birdies in a bogey-free front nine.
"It's bittersweet after shooting eight under and not winning," said the 29-year-old Smyth, who was vying for his second Asian Tour victory. "Seven under yesterday and then eight under today, it's been an amazing weekend. To fall one short is a bit of a letdown, but my game is in a good place."
