Last season Shaun Norris took the Rookie of the Year honours in Japan and on Sunday, the big-hitting South African stepped it up another level on the Japan Golf Tour when he was crowned the 17th champion of the JGT Championship Mori Building Cup in Ibaraki.

Norris rediscovered his putting touch at the Shishido Hills Country Club and launched into contention with rounds of 67, 72 and 68. The Silver Lakes golfer fired a final round 64 to seal success and a four-shot victory over Seungsu Han of South Korea on 13 under 271.

Norris was tied for third at the start of the final round and one shot back from co-leaders Filipino Angelo Que and Australian Brendan Jones, a 14-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour. Birdies at two, four and five kept him in touch with Jones as Que fell out of contention, and he erased a lone drop at nine with an eagle two at the par four 10th to take the lead. Further gains at 11 and 13 helped Norris to open up a comfortable gap on his pursuers and the 35-year-old signed off in style with a birdie at the final hole.

Norris – a two-time Sunshine Tour winner – broke into the winner’s circle on the international stage when he lifted the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship on the Asian Tour in October 2015. Just four months later, he won the Asian and Japan Golf Tours co-sanctioned Leopalace21 Myanmar Open, which helped him to the rookie of the year honours in his first season in Japan.

The second victory, worth ¥30,000,000 (roughly R3.4-million) in his eighth start this season elevated Norris to second in the Japan Golf Tour Money List. The Japan Tour will now have a one month break ahead of its next event, beginning in Hokkaido on July 6th.

Photo: Sunshine Tour