Clarke continues top form in Japan
BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2005 Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters | Wrap | 13 Nov 2005
Defending champion, Darren Clarke, added to his already impressive record in Japan when taking out the Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheyo Masters by two shots over Mitsuhiro Tateyama with a further two shots back to Hideke Kase.
Clarke has been a regular visitor to Japan over the last eight years playing one or two events per year and this win added to his previous wins here last year and at the 2002 Chunichi Crowns.
On the lower slopes of Mt Fuji where the Taiheiyo Golf Club is situated, Clarke arrived at the 72nd tee yesterday with a one shot lead over his unheralded playing partner Tateyama. After finding the green with his second Clarke holed a forty foot putt across the green to eliminate any hopes Tateyama had for what would have been a shock victory.
Tateyama was fighting above his weight against such company but did extremely well to hold on for second. In twenty five events this season Tateyama had recorded not one top ten but here he was taking it to one of the game’s more credentialed players.
Hideke Kase, who had led into the final round with Clarke struggled for much of the day and eventually finished alone in third four shots from the winner.
The best of the Australasians were Scott Laycock and Steve Conran who tied for 17th. Chris Campbell was 29th, Paul Sheehan 32nd and David Smail 54th.
The Japan Golf Tour now heads south to Miyazaki in south west Kyushsu for the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament where Tiger Woods will again tee it up.
