Kaname Yokoo benefits from US experience
IN: News | Japan | Dunlop Phoenix Tournament (2002) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 25 Nov 2002
After two seasons on the USPGA Tour, 30-year-old Kaname Yokoo showed the benefit of the experience that he has gained, by taking out the lucrative Dunlop Phoenix event in Miyazaki in Japan.
Yokoo was a four-time winner in Japan before leaving for the US in 2000 in an attempt to secure his tour card at the end of that year. He did just that by finishing 18th at the Q-school and, in his first season on the US Tour, finished in 110th place thus establishing himself for year two on tour. This year, however, has not been quite as good, finishing 130th and interestingly, he appears not to be in the field for the final stage of qualifying, which he would have needed to do to regain full playing privileges.
When you consider that Yokoo had missed his last five cuts in the US, this was a somewhat surprising result especially to hold off Garcia and a field that included Tiger Woods but perhaps highlights just what two years on the US Tour can do for a players' form, irrespective, at times, of their result, just ask this week's Holden Australian Open winner, Steve Allan.
Yokoo held off a determined challenge from one of the event's star turns, Sergio Garcia, whose last round 65 was nearly enough, failing by just the one shot, although Yokoo's bogey at the par five 18th, may have flattered the Spaniard a little.
Next in line was the Korean K.J. Choi, who has had such a fine year on the USPGA Tour including two wins. He was one shot behind Garcia while Darren Clarke and Justin Rose tied for fourth.
The event's trump card Tiger Woods never really got going and even a last round 67 would only see him to 8th place.
David Smail was the leading Australasian in 10th place; Brendan Jones was 47th, Anthony Gilligan 55th and Richard Backwell 61st.
Smail now moves to 12th on the money list and is in line for a place at the season ending Japan Series with $A850,000.
