Todd Hamilton home ahead of Conran in Diamond Cup

BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2003 Diamond Cup Tournament | Wrap | 01 Jun 2003

American Todd Hamilton won his second event of the season and regained his position at the top of this season’s Japan Golf Tour money list, with a three shot win over Australian Steve Conran in this week’s Diamond Cup Tournament.

Hamilton, who won earlier this year at the Fujisankei Classic, moves back ahead of Hirofume Miyase in the race for top honours in the top of the Japan Golf Tour rankings. His 22 million yen first prize takes him close to 50 million yen ($A630,000) for the season.

Hamilton and Conran matched strides in today’s final round both players scorching through the front nine in 32 but Hamilton finished the stronger and took the title comfortably in the end. Overnight leader Kiyoshi Maita’s triple bogey at the 12th cost him any chance of retaining the lead and his chance was gone as he fell to finish tied in fifth place.

For Conran, this continues a good run of form this season following three top twenties in his last four starts. The second placing equals his previous best finish when second at the Fujisankei event in 1999. His cheque for 11 million yen ($A150,000) equals his biggest in golf and will move him to eleventh on the money list for 2003 with 20 million yen or $A255,000.

Brendan Jones was 24th and Richard Lee, after a disappointing last round 81, was 68th.