Katayama tops Japan Golf Tour moneylist
BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2006 Fujisankei Classic | Wrap | 03 Sep 2006
Shingo Katayama today won his 20th Japan Golf Tour title and took the lead on the the 2006 Japan Golf Tour moneylist when he won the Fujisankei Classic by three shots over China’s Wen-Chong Liang.
The tournament was held for the second time at the Fujizakura Country Club in Yamanashi Prefecture south west of Tokyo, after many years at the Kawana Hotel Golf Course in nearby Shizuoka.
The 33-year-old Katayama’s win today was never really in doubt after his third round of 68 had created a five shot cushion over his nearest rival as the final round began. His two early birdies on day four gave his chasers little hope and while Liang produced a brilliant final round of 64 to close his margin to three, there was a further five shots back to the third placed group of Prayad Marksaeng, Toru Taniguchi, Jeev Milkha Singh and Hiroyuki Fujita.
In eleven starts on this year’s Japan Golf Tour, Katayama has now recorded two wins, and only three times has he been outside the top four. Liang’s second place was his best ever finish in forty six starts on the Japan Golf Tour
David Smail was the best placed of the Australasians after his final round of 69 saw him improve ten places from his overnight 17th.
Craig Jones was 23rd, Chris Campbell 29th, Scott Laycock 37th and Steve Conran 42nd.
The Japan Golf Tour now heads to the Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo’s Narita airport for this week’s Suntory Open.
