If it doesn't rain, it pours for Todd Hamilton in Japan
IN: News | Japan | Mizuno Open (2003) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 29 Jun 2003
Five years of winless drought since 1998 on the Japan PGA Tour, has turned to a veritable flood for thirty seven year old Todd Hamilton, with the American today picking up his third title in less than two months on the Japan Golf Tour. Hamilton, who won earlier in the season at the Fujisankei Classic and followed that up at the Diamond Cup just a month ago, won this week's "Gateway to the Open" Mizuno Open by a single shot over Australian Brendan Jones.
Hamilton, who was already atop of this season's money list, now moves well clear with earnings of just over 72 million yen, including the 20 million yen he earned for today's win. Illinois born, but Texas based, three time NCAA All American Hamilton, played the Hogan Tour in the US until 1991. In 1992 he ventured to Asia, where a successful season on that tour in early 1992, saw him gain access to the Japan Tour, earning his card for Japan for the rest of that year. He won the Maruman Open that same year and later finished second at the Japan Series, effectively securing his future on the Japan Golf Tour.
For Jones this was his best finish of 2003. After a great second season in Japan last year, where won the Philip Morris event and finished eighth on the money list, he had played seven events this season, with just the one top ten prior to this week. His second placed finish here and the resulting 10 million yen ($A125000), lifts him to 19th on the money list for 2003.
Hamilton and Jones started the last round trailing the overnight leader Toshi Izawa by three and four shots respectively, but both came out of the blocks early, especially Jones, who birdied the first and eagled the second to grab a share of the lead at that stage with Wei Tze Yeh. The Taiwanese golfer, Wei would later slip back. Hamilton made his decisive move through the middle of the front nine with birdies at the fifth, sixth and seventh and although both players had chances over the final holes, Hamilton had enough in hand to hold out Jones.
Toshi Izawa and Testsuji Hiratsuka tied for third one shot behind Jones.
Steve Conran was 14th, Paul Sheehan 18th, David Smail 24th and Richard Lee 58th. The Japan Tour now heads to the 120 million yen, Japan Golf Tour Championship Shishido Hills Cup, in Ibaragi Prefecture.
