Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino won the Qatar Masters by one shot after firing a final round 68 to finish on 14-under at Doha Golf Club.
Hoshino entered the final round in a three-way tie for the lead, and the 27-year-old from Japan was the first of the final group to make a move, birdieing the second to move out in front, and he made the turn at one under after bogeys at the fourth and seventh sandwiched a pair of birdies.
The six-time Japan Golf Tour winner, who finished second at both the Australian Open and the Australian PGA Championship, made another gain at the par-five 10th and it soon turned into a two-horse race with Challenge Tour graduate Ugo Coussaud from France.
The duo both added a pair of birdies down the closing stretch, meaning a par at the 18th saw Hoshino lift his first DP World Tour title.
“I’m so honoured to win this wonderful tournament,” Hoshino said after lifting the famous Mother of Pearl trophy. “I was disappointed to finish runner-up in the two Australian tournaments, so I’m so happy to finally win. Every shot was important, but the tee shot on the last was the most nerve-wracking, and my heart was definitely racing on that putt on 18!”
Scotland’s Scott Jamieson had earlier set the target at 12 under following a closing 65, which eventually earned him another third place after finishing in a tie for third at the Qatar Masters 12 months ago. Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin finished fourth on 11 under, with past champion Jorge Campillo a shot further back in fifth.
