Ishikawa defends at Fujisankei
BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2010 Fujisankei Classic | Round Four | 05 Sep 2010
A dramatic finish to the Japan Golf Tour’s Fujisankei Classic has seen the defending champion Ryo Ishikawa overcome 20 year old rookie Shunsuke Sonoda to win in a playoff.
A two shot swing in Ishikawa’s favour at the 72nd hole forced the event into a playoff before Ishikawa won not only his second event of the season but his 8th Japan Golf Tour victory overall and all this at still the age of 18. Ishikawa turns 19 on September 17th.
A five shot winner of the event last year, Ishikawa appeared likely to continue his success over the Fujizakura Country Club when he established a three shot lead over a group of six players heading into today’s final round.
When 20 year old Sonoda birdied three of his first six holes in today’s final round however he had taken the lead over his younger but more credentialed opponent. Ishikawa birdied the 10th and 11th holes and drew level with Sonoda but immediately bogeyed the 12th and fell behind.
Sonoda appeared to gain a winning break when a birdie at the par five 17th took him two clear with one to play before the two shot swing at the final hole when he bogeyed and Ishikawa produced a dramatic birdie.
Ishikawa moves to 4th position while Sonoda, who added a third runner up finish in 2010 to his win at the Mizuno Open moves to 5th.
American Han Lee finished 3rd, two shots behind the playoff.
The leading Australian was Steve Conran who finished 46th, Craig Parry after what had been a good start to the event finished 51st along with Chris Campbell while Paul Sheehan finished 60th.
The Japan Golf Tour will now have a one week break before the ANZ event in Hokkaido.
