Sheehan secures significant win in Japan
BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2006 Japan Open | Wrap | 15 Oct 2006
Victorian based New South Welshman, Paul Sheehan, today won his third event on the Japan Golf Tour and the most significant event in his professional career when he extended his third round lead of one shot to win the Japan Open Championship by three.
Sheehan returned to the Japan Golf Tour only a month ago, after all but securing his status on the 2007 US PGA Tour. Sheehan’s Nationwide season has included a win at Jacob’s Creek Open in Adelaide in February and a runner up placing in California.
With a one shot lead over the 2006 Japan Golf Tour’s leading money winner and his playing partner today, Shingo Katayama, as he entered the final round, Sheehan did little wrong on the way to the turn and as he headed into the final nine holes he had extended his lead to two over Azuma Yano with Katayama then three back of the Australian.
On what was a perfect day, the expected challenge from Katayama did not eventuate and in the end it was left to the relatively unheralded Yano to take up the battle with Sheehan. With Sheehan not making any mistakes however and then picking up a birdie at the 17th he was able to enjoy the stroll at the 18th with his four shot lead and no realistic challengers in sight. A bogey at the last was of little consequence in the final analysis.
Sheehan will earn ¥40 million (A$445,000) the equal richest purse on the Japan Golf Tour and will move from 31st to 9th on the JGT money list.
Sheehan would appear at this stage to have options for 2007 and indeed for the remainder of the year. His current money total on the Nationwide Tour of US$216,000 should be enough to assure him of his card for next year’s USPGA Tour but if not then it might be that he will play in further events there in the coming weeks to ensure that status. He also has a start at the HSBC Championship in China courtesy of winning in Adelaide. With several big money events in Japan before year’s end he might also consider playing one or two of those to finish off the season. One such event in Japan would be the Golf Nippon Series effectively the Japan Golf Tour Championship which he won in 2004.
The win will also secure Sheehan a start at next year’s Open Championship at Carnoustie. That would be only the second occasion in which Sheehan has played a Major Championship, having played his first at Royal Troon in 2004.
Yano, who has won one event previously on the JGT, finished in outright second place while Katsumasa Miyamoto and Taniguchi shared third place. Katayama, who had led for much of the tournament, bogeyed two of the last three holes to finish in a share of fifth.
Brilliant 20-year-old New South Wales amateur, Won Joon Lee, who gained a start in the event as a result of his performance at the Asia Pacific Championship last year, appeared set to challenge the leaders early in his final round. A birdie at the fourth hole had him within two of the leader but no sooner was he emerging as a threat to his fellow countryman than he had all but fallen from view on the leaderboard. Lee dropped five shots in the next four holes and had slipped to even par for the tournament and was seven behind Sheehan as he made the turn. Lee recorded another double bogey at the 13th before a birdie at the 14th but the damage was already done and he finished 24th. He was, however, the leading amateur.
For Lee however, it will be a valuable lead-in to the Eisenhower Trophy World Teams Championship in South Africa in ten days time and highlighted his undoubted potential.
David Smail was 21st and Brendan Jones in his first tournament back in Japan for some months recorded a final round of 69 for 32nd.
The Japan Golf Tour now heads to the Bridgestone Championship in Chiba Prefecture.
