Katayama wins 19th Japan Tour title at Crowns
IN: News | Japan | The Crowns (2006) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 30 Apr 2006
Shingo Katayama has been the dominant player on the Japan Golf Tour over the last six years and today he gave every indication that 2006 will continue that trend.
The highest World ranked player (51st) to compete in this week's Crowns tournament at the Nagoya Golf Club's Wago course, Katayama secured his 19th Japan Golf Tour title when he won by two shots over Nozomi Kawahara after enjoying an amazing ten shot lead early in his round.
Katayama played earlier this season in the US in events such as the Players Championship where he made the cut, the BellSouth (42nd) and the Masters where he finished a very reasonable 27th. It was the fourth cut the 33-year-old has made in five visits to Augusta National although his finish this year was his best.
Katayama returned to Japan for last week's Tsuruya Open where he finished 4th behind Brendan Jones but this week, after an opening round of 63 had him one behind the leader, he established a winning break with a third round 62 and the rest were essentially playing for second.
Within twenty five minutes of the final group of Katayama, Kawahara and Thai golfer, Prayad Marksaeng, commencing round four, the difference between first and second was ten shots. Katayama opened with a five shot lead but consecutive birdies at holes one and two and Kawahara's double bogey at the second and bogey at the third saw Katayama establish an unassailable lead. If there was any remote hope, prior to play starting on the final day, that leader might be caught, it disappeared early on day four or so it seemed at the time.
Kawahara bounced back from his horror start with five birdies in his last ten holes and closed that gap to just two at the finish but, despite a shaky finish, Katayama was never really in danger of defeat.
There was a gap of five further shots back to the third placed Ryoken (Ricky) Kawagishi, who improved from 16th with his last round of 63. Four foreigners shared fourth place, namely Nick Dougherty, Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng and Koreans Y.E. Yang and S.K. Ho.
The best of the Australians was Steve Conran, who put together a fine weekend with rounds of 63 and 68 to finish 12th, Brendan Jones, no doubt exhausted from his two great weeks prior was 23rd, Paul Sheehan was 26th, Craig Jones 44th and Chris Campbell 57th.
Brendan Jones still leads the Japan Golf Tour money list with ¥30 million (A$350,000) with Katayama in second place just ¥2 million in arrears with recent Token Homemate Cup winner Wayne Perske, third. The Japan Golf Tour now has a one week break prior to the Japan PGA Championship where Korean S.K. Ho will defend his 2005 title.
