Miyamoto wins, Conran second at KBC Augusta

BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2007 KBC Augusta | Round Four | 26 Aug 2007

Katsumasa Miyamoto, who turns 35 on Tuesday, won his sixth Japan Golf Tournament today when he held off challenges from Australian Steve Conran and Koumei Oda to claim the KBC Augusta event in Fukuoka in Southern Japan.

Oda had started the last round seven shots behind the third round leader, Miyamoto, but when he moved to 6 under for the day through 13 holes he was within one of Miyamoto and was sharing second place at that point with Conran.

Miyamoto and Conran birdied the 13th to move to 16 and 15 under respectively but when Conran birdied the par four 14th he had joined Miyamoto in the lead. The next two holes would prove crucial with Conran making bogey at both to fall back to 14 under while Miyamoto dropped a shot at the 16th but stayed one ahead.

Miyamoto, Conran and Oda were unable to make a birdie at the closing two holes but Miyamoto had done enough to win by one.

Takashi Kanemoto finished fourth after a brilliant final round of 63.

For Conran it was his second top ten in 12 starts on the 2007 Japan Golf Tour. The New South Welshman has won close to AUD$3 million in his ten year career in Japan. He has won just once in Japan, which came at this event in 2004 but he has regularly accumulated good cheques. He takes home ¥8,400,000 for his share of second.

Other Australians included Craig Parry and Scott Laycock who both finished in a share of 10th. Parry’s week was a rollercoaster. He opened with 66 but by early in round three he had slipped to almost the trail of the field before a late rally followed by a final round 65. Laycock on the other hand was home in 32 today to record just his second top ten of the year.

Wayne Perske and Paul Sheehan finished in a share of 25th.

The Japan Golf Tour will now play the Fujisankei Classic where one of the leading money winners on this year’s tour, Brendan Jones, returns to tournament golf after the arrival of his first child.