Takayama defeats Chand at Sun Chlorella
BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2010 Sun Chlorella Classic | Round Four | 01 Aug 2010
Five years after his previous win on the Japan Golf Tour, 32 year old Tadahiro Takayama today added his third career JGT victory with a three shot win over Fiji’s Dinesh Chand at the lucrative Sun Chlorella tournament in Hokkaido.
Takayama and Chand led the field by three into the final round and the pair was still tied with eight holes to play. A bogey at the 11th by Takayama briefly gave Chand the ascendency as he looked for his first Japan Golf Tour victory in nearly six years but bogeys at the 12th and 15th by Chand and birdies at the 13th and 17th by Takayama gave the Japanese player a comfortable win.
Takayama has not previously played well at the Otaru Country club course, finishing no closer than 21st in five previous attempts. His third round of 64 was the round that set up the victory, however, sweeping him into a share of the lead at that point with Chand before going on with it today.
Chand has been in fine form on the Japan Challenge Tour this season, winning on two occasions and leading their money list. Chand, who first played the Japan Golf Tour in 1998, lost his full status at the end of 2009 but he is now assured of full playing rights in Japan.
Chand has acquitted himself well in the few events he has played on the main tour this season. At the recent Lexus Championship he finished 17th after being in joint second position heading into the final round and last week finished 9th at the Sega Sammy Cup.
Liang Wen-chong and Tetsuji Hiratsuka today tied for third, two shots behind Chand.
The leading Australian was Brendan Jones who finished in a share of 7th, adding a further ￥4,762,500 (A$60,000) to his earnings in 2010 and moving him to 19th position on this season’s money list.
Eddie Lee was 34th, David Smail 38th, Kurt Barnes and Richard Lee 52nd Wayne Perske 60th and Brad Andrews 69th.
The Japan Golf Tour has a two week break before the Kansai Open although for many they will not return to tournament golf until the KBC Augusta event starting on August 26th.
