Kyung Tae Kim back to best in Japan
BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2012 Fujisankei Classic | Wrap | 02 Sep 2012
Korean golfer Kyung Tae Kim has today won his 5th Japan Golf Tour title with a narrow one shot victory over Yuta Ikeda at the Fujisankei Classic at the Fujizakura Country Club in Yamanashi Prefecture.
Kim, the second highest ranked player in the tournament after Ryo Ishikawa, birdied three of his last five holes, including one at the last, for a round of 68 to edge past Ikeda who had set the mark to beat just five minutes earlier.
Hiroyuki Fujita and third round leader Prayad Marksaeng finished in third place two shots from Kim.
Kim was a member of the International Presidents Cup team last year but in 2012 his form has not been at the same level. In 2011 Kim won twice and produced several outstanding performances in events such as the WGC Bridgestone, the Wyndham Championship and the Australian PGA Championship.
There had been the occasional glimpse of his undoubted class in 2012 but not the same level of consistency he produced in 2011 during a season which saw him reach as high as #20 in the world ranking.
His Presidents Cup debut saw him defeat Webb Simpson in the singles, further establishing his rising status in the game.
The leading Australasian was Kurt Barnes who finished 22nd with New Zealander David Smail fading badly over the final round to finish 43rd.
The Japan Tour now plays the Toshin Tournament.
Discuss this article in our forums
