Kikuchi defeats Suzuki at Sun Chlorella
IN: News | Japan | Sun Chlorella Classic (2007) | Round Four | by Bruce Young | 05 Aug 2007
33-year-old, Jun Kikuchi, won his first Japan Golf Tour event in nearly eleven years of campaigning when he defeated the vastly more credentialed, Toru Suzuki, in a playoff to claim the Sun Chlorella Classic on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido today.
Kikuchi parred the third extra hole to defeat the 41-year-old and seven time winner, Suzuki, who had led for much of the tournament. Kikuchi birdied five holes in a six hole stretch during his final nine holes today to take the lead outright but a bogey at his final hole appeared as if it might prove costly. He was, however, able to hold firm in the playoff to win the ¥30 million first prize.
Third placed Hisayuki Sasaki and Hiroshi Iwata both dropped shots late in their final rounds to cost them a chance of victory.
The best of the Australasians were New Zealanders, David Smail, Eddie Lee and Brisbane golfer, Wayne Perske, who all finished in a share of 16th while Steve Conran was 54th.
The Japan Golf Tour now has a two week break before the KBC Augusta Classic in Fukuoka starting on August 23rd.
