Jang wins wire-to-wire Japan Women's Open

BY Bruce Young | Japan Ladies Tour | 2006 Japan Women's Open Golf Championship | Wrap | 01 Oct 2006

USLPGA Tour player Jeong Jang led from start to finish to win this week’s Japan Women’s Open at the Ibaraki Country Club near Osaka.

After an opening round of 69, the South Korean controlled the tournament throughout and ran out the winner by five over fellow countrywomen Hyun-Ju Shin with the recent two time winner and Japan golf’s darling, Ai Miyazato, one shot further back in third.

On the tough and demanding layout near Osaka, Jang, who has now won twice on the USLPGA Tour including last year’s British Open Championship, was the dominant player throughout the week and her last round of 69 saw her extend her third round advantage.

Miyazato, who has won her last two Japan Ladies Golf Tour events since returning from the USLPGA Tour, struggled a little on the last day but still managed to hold on to third place alone.

The best of the Australians was Nikki Campbell whose recent break in Australia may have caught up with her today, but despite her final round of 73 she still did well enough to finish in a share of 7th place, her sixth top ten of the season. Tamie Durdin was 19th.

The Japan Ladies Golf Tour now moves to the Akagi Golf Club in Gunma Prefecture for this coming week’s Sankyo Ladies Open.