Miyase takes three way playoff at Tsuruya Open
IN: News | Japan | Tsuruya Open (2003) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 27 Apr 2003
Third round leader Hirofumi Miyase survived a shaky front nine and a charge from Hisayuki Sasaki and Takashi Kanemoto to win the Tsuruya Open, the third event of the 2003 Japan Golf Tour season.
Miyase began the final round one shot ahead of Australian Brendan Jones and three strokes ahead of Kanemoto but by the time they had reached the fourth hole, Miyase had stumbled with two bogeys and Sasaki, playing several groups ahead, had surged ahead of both Kanemoto and Miyase. It was then the turn of Kanemoto, still to win on the JGT, to take the lead, extending it to two when he had birdied holes six seven and eight. Miyase was able to bounce back with birdies on five and six to trail Kanemoto by just one shot at the turn although that soon became two when Kanemoto birdied the 10th hole.
Sasaki continued his run with birdies on 13, 15 and 16 to finish at fourteen under and he was then forced to wait as, firstly Kanemoto, then Miyase, were unable to take the outright lead from him. Kanemoto had bogeys on the 12th and 15th to cost him a chance of outright victory and, despite birdies on the 15th and 17th, Miyase could not edge ahead.
Miyase was, however, able to do just that at the first extra hole and in doing so won his fourth title in the last four seasons and fifth on tour. The 32-year-old Miyase has been a prolific money winner on the Japan Golf Tour more especially in the last five years although he has been on the Japan Golf Tour since 1990. His superb second round 62 was the eventual catalyst for his victory today.
Brendan Jones will be disappointed with his poor Sunday round of 74, after being very much in contention going into the final round. He eventually finished tied for sixth but given his growing status in Japan he would have been expecting better of himself. He could not get going early, in fact two bogeys on the front nine and a double on the 14th taking him down the leaderboard. A late birdie on the par five 17th was some consolation. Still, after missing the cut at his first event, the Token Cup, it will be pleasing to have gotten into contention and he is no doubt in for another good season in Japan. He earns $A41,000.
New Zealander Richard Lee, in his second season in Japan, had his best finish with a tie for 11th. He finished in 12th position three times last year in his rookie season and an even better season can be expected from him this year. Andre Stolz was also on the same score as Lee confirming his place at the top of the money list, just ahead of Miyase, following this weekend and his win at the recent Token Cup. Stolz will play another two events in Japan before heading to the US and both Lee and Stolz earnt $A28,500.
Paul Sheehan was 15th in just his third event on the main tour in Japan, a solid finish. He has made all three cuts this season, bearing in mind that the first event of the 2003 season was late last year in Okinawa. New South Wales' Steve Conran was 21st and David Smail 24th.
The Japan Tour now heads to Nagoya for the time honoured $A1,650,000 Chunichi Crowns event where England's Justin Rose will defend his title.
