The Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship, the Panasonic Open 2011, was held for the fourth time since the first championship in 2008. The tournament stage this time moved to the Biwako Country Club, and everybody waited for tee off there. Deep rough areas spread on the both sides of narrow fairways of this course, where would be such a tough spot for golfers once they hit a ball into there. Greens for this tournament had a steep pitch.

Jbe Kruger, a first-time appearance in the Japan tour, started in first place

It was rainy weather in the morning of the first day due to the typhoon No. 15 that made its way across Japan. Jbe Kruger (South Africa) got off to a rocket start with a 7-under-par 64, making a three-stroke lead against Daisuke Maruyama, Kenichi Kuboya, Bae Sang-Moon (KOR), and S. K. Ho (KOR) in second place.

S. K. Ho went to the front with good daily scores

The second day was a national holiday, so that a large number of galleries, 10,496 visitors, came to the tournament. Kruger kept silence staying at even par, whereas S. K. Ho, who aimed at winning the Japan tour for the first time in three years, took the top spot. He made good scores consecutively, 67 on the first day and 66 on the second day. S. K. Ho advanced to the final round staying at the best position with 9-under-par, while Kruger dropped to second place, two strokes behind. Bae Sang-Moon placed third, one stroke behind. Abroad golfers were quite active in this qualifying round.

Daisuke Maruyama, the winner of the Panasonic Open 2009, moved into sole lead

On the third day, Daisuke Maruyama, who got off his start in the tie for fourth place with 5-under-par, endured quite well showing his characteristic, patience. Maruyama won the championship in 2009, and finished in the tie for third place last year. Even though the tournament course changes every year, this 40-year-old veteran golfer who gets along with this championship moved into sole lead, with 8-under-par, by showing the textbook-like switching skill of offence and defense. He came to just one step from the third career victory this day.

Dramatic upset victory of Tetsuji Hiratsuka from the tie for sixth place with four strokes behind

On the final day, 10 golfers were crammed within four strokes from Maruyama. Everyone on high in the leader board started to round while believing their comeback win. A local golfer, Tetsuji Hiratsuka, who knows the course of Biwako Country Club more than anyone, got out of this heated contention for the tournament. He started rounding this course when he was the seventh grade, and he rounds this course 10 times a year even now. Making a start from the tie for sixth place with 4-under-par chasing four strokes, he made a successful eagle by directly dropping in the cup from a fairway bunker in the 11th par-4 hole. He also succeeded in taking birdies in the 13th and 16th holes, and then he went to the sole possession of the top for the first time in the final round. As a result, Hiratsuka brilliantly earned his sixth career victory on tour and won the title of the Asia-Pacific No. 1 golfer.

The winner, Tetsuji Hiratsuka, Yoshinori Fujimoto who earned the lowest amateur for the second time in two years, and Jbe Kruger who raised the best score, 64, on the first day of the championship appeared in the awards ceremony, who were welcomed with thunderous applause by the gallery. Hiratsuka made a winner's speech, saying "I feel so great winning in the local course!! Thank you very much for your support and cheer!!" He received an ovation from the gallery when he held up his trophy.

Next year, the fifth championship of the Panasonic Open will be held at a prominent golf course in Hyogo, Higashi Hirono Golf Club. Set in a golf course with a higher level of difficulty, excellent golfers from Asia-Pacific regions will participate in the championship, and a heated tournament can also be expected next year.