Sheehan wins maiden victory in Japan at Fujisankei Classic

BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2004 Fujisankei Classic | Wrap | 09 May 2004

Australian Paul Sheehan has today won his first event on the Japan Golf Tour with a resounding four shot win over Mitsuhiro Tateyama and Kaname Yokoo at the Fujisankei Classic, south of Tokyo.

The 27-year-old Sheehan, who last week finished runner up at The Crowns tournament near Nagoya, extended his two shot third round lead to four with a faultless four birdie, no bogey final round to keep the challengers well and truly at bay.

Opening with three birdies in the first four holes, Sheehan quickly put paid to any potential challengers with his opening salvo and from that point on it was more a case of by how many he would win, rather than if.

Sheehan is in his second season on the Japan Golf Tour having finished 20th on the money list last year in his rookie year. This win and the accompanying 22 million yen or $A280,000 has taken him to second on the 2004 money list just 175,000 yen or $3,000 behind last week’s winner Shingo Katayama.

Sheehan was twice runner up in his rookie season last year before his runner up placing last week, so while this was his maiden win on the Japan Golf Tour, it was not exactly unexpected. The ex-Australian Junior Tennis champion has now well and truly vindicated his decision to turn to professional golf ahead of a budding tennis career and there appears to be a lot more in store for him as he continues to find his feet not only in Japan, but in professional golf. Sheehan’s only other win was in the 2000 West Australian Open but there will be many more ahead.

Tateyama was also looking for his first win, while Yokoo who won the Dunlop Phoenix in 2002 and played in the US in recent years, finishing second in Phoenix amongst other good finishes, is now back in Japan and promising to win again before too long.

Scott Laycock was 8th, Steve Conran 13th and David Smail 25th to complete the Australasian weekend performances.