Consistent Yokoo claims fifth Japan Tour win
BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2006 Mitsubishi Diamond Cup Golf | Wrap | 28 May 2006
33-year-old, Kaname Yokoo, today won his fifth Japan Golf Tour event when he stormed home with a final round of 66 to win the Mitsubishi Diamond Cup at the Sayama Golf Club in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo by two shots.
Yokoo’s last victory was in 2002 when he overcame Sergio Garcia at the Dunlop Phoenix, but his playoff loss in that same event to Tiger Woods late last year and several other good finishes in that time highlight the place he commands in Japanese golf. His level of consistency on the Japan Golf Tour is such that last year he played 30 events and only missed two cuts.
Today he started one shot behind the third round leader, Toru Suzuki, but consecutive birdies on the opening two holes had him sharing the lead with JGT veteran Suzuki who had birdied the first hole. Birdies at the 6th and 9th holes had Yokoo in charge at the turn and although Suzuki and Nozomi Kawahara closed the gap over the closing nine his lead was too great.
Yokoo, who first competed on the Japan Golf Tour in 1996, played the USPGA Tour for three years after gaining his USPGA Tour card in 2000. His best finish during that time was when runner up to Chris DiMarco at the Phoenix Open in 2002 but by the end of 2003 he had come to the end of his run in the US and headed back to Japan.
Shingo Katayama finished in fourth place alone and extended his lead on the JGT Money List over Brendan Jones.
Jones was the best of the Australasians when finishing in a share of 15th place. His last round of even par 71 saw him lose ground on what was the best day for scoring all week.
David Smail was 20th and Steve Conran 26th.
The Japan Golf Tour now heads to the JCB Sendai Classic in Sendai, a two hour Shinkansen (Bullet train) ride north of Tokyo.
