Oda wins - Basic top ten at Diamond Cup

BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2011 Diamond Cup | Final Round | 29 May 2011

Koumei Oda today gained revenge for his near miss in the same event twelve months earlier by winning the Diamond Cup Golf tournament at the Chiba Country Club east of Tokyo. Oda won by four shots, securing his 5th Japan Tour title in the process.

Oda took control of the event during Friday’s second round and never relinquished that lead, taking a two shot lead into round three and a three shot lead into today’s final round.

Veteran Hiroyuki Fujita, a ten time winner on the Japan Tour, appeared as if he might be the one to upset Oda when he got within one shot early in the back nine but consecutive bogeys at the 12th and 13th and three further bogeys late in his round saw his hopes slip away. He eventually finished in a share of 7th.

It would be the Toshinori Muto and Kaname Yokoo however who would eventually finish in a share of second.

Sydney golfer Neven Basic headed the Australians when he shared 7th position. Playing in just his 3rd Japan Golf Tour event, the 33 year took a share of 4th position into the final day as he chased one of the biggest cheques in his career. An early bogey did not help his cause but he recovered with a birdie at the 8th and although he dropped shots in the middle of his round will be delighted with his two late birdies.

Basic earned his Japan Golf Tour card via Tour School late in 2011 and just a few weeks later finished as the leading qualifier at the PGA Tour of Australasia’s Tour School. Basic today earned ￥3,410,400 (A$40,000) which must surely be one of the biggest paydays in his six year professional career.

Other Australasians who complete the event were Chris Campbell and David Smail in 21st position, Richard Lee was 31st and Neil Sarkies 53rd.
The Japan Golf Tour will now move to the nearby Ibaraki Prefecture for this coming week’s Japan Golf Tour Championship

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