Fukabori outlasts Sheehan to win Sun Chlorella
IN: News | Japan | Sun Chlorella Classic (2005) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 07 Aug 2005
Keiichiro Fukabori today added to his already impressive record on the Japan Golf Tour when he won the lucrative Sun Chlorella tournament in Hokkaido in Japan's north. Joint third round leader, Hidemasa Hoshino, bogeyed two of the last three holes to finish one behind.
It was Fukabori's first win since the Japan Open in 2003 but his 7th overall. Fukabori had also led at various stages at last week's Aiful Cup before struggling on the final day but today he powered through the opening nine to set the platform for his win.
Hoshino was slow early today but an eagle at the 9th had him just one back of Fukabori although four birdies in the first five holes of the closing nine saw him move ahead of both Fukabori and Australian Paul Sheehan. Like Fukabori, Hoshino had not won in two years and had just the one victory on the JGT. Hoshino found a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with bogeys at the 16th and 18th holes and it was Fukabori's title by the narrow one shot margin.
Sheehan, who led into the final round along with Hoshino, was playing with Hoshino in round four and when he had moved to 15 under through 13 holes he shared the lead with his playing partner. It appeared at that stage as if the title would be between the Australian and Hoshino. Sheehan was looking for his first win in 2005 but bogeys at the 15th, 16 and 17th holes put paid to his chances and he was forced to settle for third although given the size of the purse (it was the second largest on the Japan Golf Tour) he was well compensated. Sheehan earned ¥10.2 million (A$118,000)
Four players tied for fourth namely defending champion Y. E. Yang, Yutaka Horinouchi, Satoru Hirota, W. T. Yeh, Tomohiro Kondo and Kiyoshi Miyazato.
Fukabori moves to third on the Japan Golf Tour money list with ¥49 million and trails only S. K. Ho and Joe Ozaki.
Craig Jones was the only other Australian to feature when 40th.
The Japan Golf Tour now has a three week break until the Under Armour KBC Augusta tournament in Fukuoka.
