S.K. Ho finally wins Japan PGA Championship
IN: News | Japan | Japan PGA Championship (2004) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 16 May 2004
Korean S.K. Ho today went one better than he had in last year's Japan PGA Championship, when he outlasted Keiichiro Fukabori to win this year's event by just one shot. Last year Ho was been beaten by one shot by Shingo Katayama. He had also finished third in this event in 2002 so perhaps today, justice was served.
Ho had earlier this season finished sixth at the Token Homemate Cup and fifth at the Crowns so while only his second win on the Japan Golf Tour, this win was not exactly unexpected.
This week's event had been rain shortened to 54 holes as a result of a washout on day one, but for Ho it was a case of leading from the start as he had opened with a first round 66 on Thursday to share the first round lead with David Ishii and went on to again share the lead at the completion of 36 holes.
Ho and Yasuharu Imano led into round three but although he had an early hiccup with a bogey at the second today, Ho drew away to lead by four over Keiichiro Fukabori at the turn, a lead that seemed insurmountable until Fukabori stormed home in 32 to miss a playoff by just one.
Kaname Yokoo followed up his runner up placing last week at the Fujisankei Classic with a share of third with Hideto Tanihara for third, with Tanihara's last round 66, the equal best of the day.
Australian Paul Sheehan followed up his runner up placing two weeks ago at the Crowns and his win last week at the Fujisankei with another solid week here for a share of eighth and, as a result, he is now atop the 2004 Japan Golf Tour rankings. He leads the money list with 37.6 million yen ($A473,000) some $A16,000 ahead of Katayama.
Brendan Jones was 14th and has fourth place on the money list with, David Smail 32nd, the only other Australasian to make the cut.
The Japan Golf Tour now heads to Munsingwear Open KSB Cup starting Thursday 20th May.
