Ono, Hyogo: Taiga Semikawa seems intent on following in the footsteps of fellow-Japanese Keita Nakajima.

With his victory in the Panasonic Open Golf Championship on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO), 21-year-old Semikawa emulated the performance of Nakajima in winning the same tournament a year ago.

In so doing, Semikawa became only the sixth amateur to win on the JGTO, rising to 522nd from 896th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

More importantly, he jumped seven spots to second place in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and is now setting his sights on becoming the fourth Japanese to rise to the number one position after Hideki Matsuyama, Takumi Kanaya and Nakajima.

Semikawa followed a sensational third round 61 with a closing 66 at Onotoyo Golf Club, which included five successive birdies from the 13th hole. His 22-under 266 aggregate proved too good for his professional rivals.

“I never imagined that I could win a JGTO championship as a student,” said Semikawa, in the immediate aftermath of his triumph.

“I didn’t know how to describe my feeling right now. I’m overjoyed. I have never experienced anything like this. I knew I only stood a chance to win if I keep the birdies coming as everyone is capable of going really low on this course,” added Semikawa, whose first name was inspired by Tiger Woods.

Semikawa and Nakajima were team-mates for Japan at last month’s World Amateur Team Championship for the Eisenhower Trophy in Paris. There, Semikawa finished second in the individual standings on 16-under 270 while Nakajima had to settle for a share of 53rd place on 287.

Since then, Nakajima, who was the top-rated amateur in the world for more than a year, has joined the ranks of the professionals.

Currently, Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg holds the number one spot in the WAGR.