Katayama streets opposition at Nippon Series JT Cup

BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2002 Golf Nippon Series JT Cup | Wrap | 08 Dec 2002

29-year-old Shingo Katayama secured his second win of the year in the Nippon Series JT Cup in Tokyo today, but it was the manner of his win against the leading players on this season’s money list that was so impressive.

Starting the last round with a six shot lead over Jumbo Ozaki, Katayama played the front nine in a rock solid even par and when his first birdie came on the eleventh, well any possible chance that those behind had was gone.

In the end he won by nine shots from New Zealand’s David Smail, who has posted two wins, a second and a tenth in his last seven starts and now finds himself in fifth place on the money list with 94,000,000 yen or $NZ1,510,000. Smail won 14,800,000 yen for his second place here or $NZ240,000.

Smail birdied the final two holes including the demanding par three last hole to grab second, one stroke ahead of Jumbo Ozaki with Jong-Duck Kim and Katsunaori Kuwabara tied for fourth.

Brendan Jones was thirteenth, with Terry Price 17th.