Long wait ends for Yuhara at KBC Augusta
BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2002 Hisamitsu-KBC Augusta | Wrap | 01 Sep 2002
For Nobumitsu Yuhara it has been a long wait but one that he will be rejoicing in tonight. It has been eleven years since Yuhara last won on the Japan PGA Tour and to do it he not only had to survive a very congested last round leaderboard, but also a typhoon which hit the Fukuoka region and reduced the event to fifty four holes.
Events at this time of the year in Japan are often effected by typhoons especially those in the south where this event was played. They often last only a day but can be incredibly destructive.
Yuhara had led after thirty six holes along with Masashi Shamada but, with the third round being cancelled due to that threat of the typhoon, he was forced to carry that lead another twenty four hours. Although his last round of even par seventy two sounds solid enough especially given the conditions, it was made up of five birdies, one eagle and six bogies, so not exactly rock solid but enough to hold the five players, who finished but one behind, at bay. Those finishing second were China’s Zhang Lian-Wei, American Christian Pena, Shigemasa Higaki, Toshimasa Nakajima and Katsunori Kuwabara.
The event was worth 15,000,000 yen ($A230,000) to the winner and, with this being only his second top ten of the year (the other was where he finished seventh at the Diamond Cup), he moves only to twenty eight on the money list but certainly a lot healthier than a week ago. Nobuhito Sato still leads the money list with (equiv) $A1,177,000 from Toru Taniguchi in second place.
Not much joy for the Australasians with Scott Laycock in 15th place ($A16,500) and Anthony Gilligan in 28th. Laycock still heads the Australasians on this year’s money list with 23,000,000 yen or $A355,000 but only narrowly from David Smail who is only about $A5,000 behind. Laycock has however, only played seven events in Japan this season.
The Japan Tour now moves back to the northern island of Hokkaido for the PGA Match Play event.
