 Kitami's Kohsuke Hirata (Photo: HBCC) win the 2023 Hokkaido Bank Curling Classic. By: Cameron Sallaj In the men's final of the 2023 Hokkaido Bank Curling Classic, 2023 Japanese silver medalists Team Kohsuke Hirata faced newly crowed Korean curling champions Team Park Jong-duk. Hirata earned a spot in the final with a 6-3 win over Sapporo International University's Hayato Sato while Park bested the Japanese champions Team Riku Yanagisawa 6-5. Team Hirata, with third Shingo Usui, second Ryota Meguro, lead Yoshiya Miura and alternate Kosuke Aita began the game with hammer and got out to a quick start by scoring two in the first end. The Kitami rink extended their lead to 4-0 with a steal of two in the second. The team from Gangwon Province, with skip Park Jong-duk, third Jeong Yeong-seok, second Oh Seung-hoon, lead Seong Ji-hoon and alternate Lee Ki-bok got on the board with a single point in the third end. Team Hirata extended their lead to 6-1 with another score of two in the fourth end, putting Team Park at a five-point disadvantage after the first half. The Korean side were able to score one more in the fifth end, but the game would end early after Hirata counted two more in the sixth end to secure the 8-2 victory. After recording their best finish at the national championship with a silver medal in February, the Hirata rink are looking to continue their momentum into the 2023-24 season. The team will head to Canada in November to compete in the Red Deer Curling Classic as well as the Mile Zero Cash Spiel. After winning the 2023 Korean Curling Championships and a strong performance in Sapporo, Team Park is already 13-2 on the season in just their first two events. The Korean champs also have a string of tour events in Canada which include the Saville Shoot-Out, the Prestige Hotels & Resorts Curling Classic and the Curling Stadium Western Showdown. In the third-place game, Team Yanagisawa defeated Team Sato 7-3, stealing two in the eighth end. Watch the replay of the 2023 Hokkaido Bank Curling Classic men's final between Kitami Association (Kohsuke Hirata) and Gangwon Province (Park Jong-duk): |
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