Poulter clinches wire-to-wire Japan win
IN: News | Japan | Dunlop Phoenix Tournament (2007) | Round Four | by Bruce Young | 18 Nov 2007
Just as his fellow English teammate in next week’s World Cup of Golf, Justin Rose, had done a month earlier, Ian Poulter will head across the Japan Sea to China for the World Golf Championship event off the back of a significant win.
Rose has not played competitively since his most important victory at the recent Volvo Masters and today Poulter also ensured he will head to China in great form when winning the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in southern Japan, cruising to a three victory over Spain’s Gonzalo Federez-Castano.
It was only the second occasion Poulter had played in Japan having finished 6th in this event last year in his only other start. Poulter led the event after each round and although challenged early on day four by fellow countryman Luke Donald, he repelled all challenges with a strong finish on a cool autumn day.
Donald joined Poulter in the lead when he birdied two of his first six holes and Poulter bogeyed the 6th hole but a double bogey at the 8th hole put the tournament back in the control of Poulter.
Federez-Castano survived a rollercoaster final round and when he birdied two of his last three holes he finished alone in second place, albeit three shots from the winner.
Shingo Katayama shared third with Donald while defending champion Padraig Harrington and USPGA Tour’s likely Rookie of the Year, Brandt Snedeker shared 5th position.
Craig Parry finished the best of the Australians after last week’s winner Brendan Jones folded over the closing holes. Jones dropped five shots over the closing nine holes, including a double bogey at the par three 17th.
Parry finished 15th, Brendan Jones 19th, Paul Sheehan 21st, David Smail 25th and Chris Campbell slumped to 60th after having made a brilliant start with an opening round of 66.
