Japan unearths new star in Ishikawa
IN: News | Japan | Munsingwear Open KSB Cup (2007) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 20 May 2007
Japanese golf served notice that it is about is about to let loose on the world scene a major golfing talent when 15-year-old tournament invite, Ryo Ishikawa, produced a brilliant last round of 66 to win the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup in Okayama today.
Ishikawa, who was playing in his very first Japan Golf Tour event, started the last day in 23rd place and seven shots behind the leader Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand but with 36 holes to play on day three of the weather disrupted event there was plenty of holes on which to improve his position. On the morning of day four, his third round of 69 moved Ishikawa within four shots and inside the top ten but four birdies in his first seven holes in round four had him breathing down the leader’s necks.
Ishikawa started the final round more than an hour ahead of the final group as with 36 holes being played on the final day, the groupings remained the same for both rounds on day four. A bogey at the 9th was only a minor set back for the youngster as he birdied the 10th to take a share of the lead with Koumei Oda before Oda struggled with three bogies early in his back nine.
Katsumasa Miyamoto was unable to secure the one last birdie he needed to catch Ishikawa and finished one shot back while Tomohiro Kondo finished with a birdie and an eagle to grab outright third ahead of a group at 9 under who shared third including the brothers of Ai Miyazato, Yusaku and Kiyoshi.
Craig Parry had a share of the lead himself early into today’s final round but fell victim to a double bogey at the 16th which cost him any chance of victory. Parry had birdied his opening two holes in round four and gave every indication that he might follow up his good week when 5th last week at the Japan PGA Championship with a win but he eventually finished 8th. Parry has however laid claims to his first win in Japan in coming weeks since the 1997 Japan Open.
New Zealander Eddie Lee had worked his way into a challenging position after his morning round of 69 but fell away with his final round of 76.
Only 41 players started on the final day in order to get the full 72 holes of the tournament completed but there were several who did not play who will still get pay cheques including Scott Laycock and Wayne Perkse. They made the 36 hole cut but were not able to play the final 36 holes.
The Japan Golf Tour now heads to Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture for this week’s Mitsubishi Diamond Cup.
