Golf: Minami Katsu becomes youngest Japan LPGA winner at 15

Japanese amateur golfer Minami Katsu holds the trophy during the awarding ceremony of the Vantelin Ladies Open in Kumamoto, western Japan on April 20, 2014. Japanese schoolgirl Minami Katsu became the youngest winner on the country's women's golf tou
Japanese amateur golfer Minami Katsu holds the trophy during the awarding ceremony of the Vantelin Ladies Open in Kumamoto, western Japan on April 20, 2014. Japanese schoolgirl Minami Katsu became the youngest winner on the country's women's golf tour on Sunday, April 20, 2014, at the age of 15 years and 293 days. -- PHOTO: AFP 

TOKYO (AFP) - Japanese schoolgirl Minami Katsu became the youngest winner on the country's women's golf tour on Sunday at the age of 15 years and 293 days.

Going out one stroke off the pace, the amateur player rolled in five birdies against one bogey for a round of 68 to win the Japan LPGA Vantelin Ladies Open with a total of 11-under-par 205 in the southern city of Kumamoto.

South Korean Lee Bo Mee finished second, one shot back.

Minami broke the record set by South Korean Kim Hyo Joo when she won the Suntory Ladies Open in 2012 at the age of 16 years and 332 days.

"My body felt as if it did not belong to me. I think I made the round without thinking anything," said the pony-tailed player, who is 1.57m tall.

"I got so nervous on the final hole but until then I wasn't at all," said Minami, who enrolled in a high school in her home region of Kagoshima this month.

She started playing golf at the urging of her grandfather when she was six.

She has competed in 11 Japan LPGA tournaments and her previous best finish was 12th.

Ryo Ishikawa holds the record for the youngest winner on the Japanese men's tour, taking the 2007 Munsingwear KSB Cup at the age of 15 years, 245 days.

"When I was tied for the lead after the first round, they told me, 'You are probably going to win'," Minami said.

"I didn't think it would be possible but I tried to work hard anyway. I really didn't think I would win."

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