Rising New Zealand star Kazuma Kobori is gunning to become the first golfer since Robert Allenby in 2005 to win three straight Australasian PGA events at this week's Vic Open.
Just eight tournaments into his burgeoning professional career, the 22-year-old Kobori has enjoyed a remarkable past 12 months, including victories at the Australasian Tour school, the Australian Amateur and the World Amateur championships.
He went close to claiming his first pro tournament at the Vic PGA in December before winning each of the past two Webex Players Series events at Cobram and Rosebud.
The last man to claim back-to-back Australasian Tour events was Adam Scott, who rounded out his historic US Masters-winning campaign in 2013 with victories at the Australian PGA and Masters.
And you have to go even further back to 2005, when Allenby won the Australian Open, PGA and Masters in successive weeks for the last triple treat.
Now it's the lightly-framed Kobori riding a hot streak.
"I'm just trying to conserve as much energy as possible because being in contention two weeks in a row is pretty draining," he said on Wednesday.
"At the start, my expectations about turning pro was about trying to make cuts, get all four rounds in, because it's all about experience.
"And if you can play four rounds a week over two weeks, then you're getting double the experience, right?
"So that was my goal going in and then at the Vic PGA I got close and realised I can do it for real, be in contention week in, week out.
"It feels great to get two wins on the board early."
With every victory he racks up, Kobori's playing horizons broaden.
He is currently second on the Australasian Tour Order of Merit behind reigning Australian PGA champion Min Woo Lee.
Top spot would bring him an automatic start in the British Open at Royal Troon in July, while the top three finishers earn cards for the 2024-25 DP World Tour season beginning in November.
Kobori will also be a star turn at the New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort from February 29, where another victory would guarantee him an Asian Tour card and open more doors for sponsors' invites.
The Japanese-born Kobori is already a world-class putter, which should stand him in good stead on the slick greens at Thirteenth Beach.
"I never used to be a good putter, I never practised it," he said.
"But obviously I don't hit the ball a long way, so I've got to do something to make up for that.
"That's when I started practising my putting a little bit.
"I was a streaky putter in my junior days; I would have hot rounds and cold rounds."
Kobori will play the first two rounds of the Vic Open alongside countryman and defending champ Michael Hendry.
The field also includes Australians Elvis Smylie, Mathew Goggin and Ben Eccles.
Multiple major winners Karrie Webb and South Korean Jiyai Shin are the biggest names in the women's Vic Open, alongside the likes of Australians Su Oh, Karis Davidson and Sarah Jane Smith.
Gol Aust
