Ishikawa comes to Norman's aid
BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2009 Coca-Cola Tokai Classic | Round Four | 04 Oct 2009
Greg Norman may have had a tumultuous few days in areas other than on the golf course but there is little doubt that the news from Nagoya this afternoon will have given the International Presidents Cup captain a lot to smile about.
One of Norman’s two wildcard selections for the team he will lead into battle against the Americans on Thursday, Ryo Ishikawa, has won his fourth Japan Golf Tour title of the season when he recovered from an early back nine setback to birdie the final two holes to win the Tokai Classic at the Miyoshi Golf Club in Nagoya.
Ishikawa had started the final round with a narrow one shot lead over Kajikawa and the number two player on the Japan Golf Tour this season, Yuta Ikeda, and with two early birdies the 18 year old had raced to a three shot lead. Another birdie at his 8th hole and Ishikawa’s fifth victory of the season looked to be almost a formality.
It was not long after that Ishikawa began a rollercoaster ride over the closing nine holes which included two double bogeys, a bogey, an eagle and the two birdies to finish and the one shot victory.
Just as he had when beating Brendan Jones in Hokkaido two months ago, Ishikawa produced the goods when he needed to most with a birdie at the last to win by one.
Not only was runner-up Kajikawa staking a claim for his first JPGT title but veteran Shingo Katayama appeared as if he might snatch the title from both players when he raced to 13 under through 15 hole before bogeys at the 15th and 17th cost him any chance.
Katayama shared third position with Ikeda.
The leading Australasian was David Smail who put together a strong weekend to finish 9th, Steve Conran was 23rd, Danny Lee battled to a final round 76 and was 29th, Paul Sheehan was 51st and Eddie Lee 55th.
The Japan Golf Tour will now move north to the Canon Open in Kanagawa Prefecture near Yokohama.
