Tanihara wins Munsingwear Open KSB Cup

BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2008 Munsingwear Open KSB Cup | Round Four | 25 May 2008

Hideto Tanihara has led the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup at the Tojigaoka Marine Hills Golf Club in Tamano, Okayama Prefecture from start to finish to win his seventh Japan Golf Tour event.

Tanihara began the event with a round of 65 on Thursday and while he shared the lead at that point, he took the lead outright with a second round of 67 and at the halfway point led by two. His third round of 65 would be the telling blow for his competitors however, sweeping him into a six shot third round lead and for a player of his experience, almost inevitable victory.

Tanihara eventually won by three after over last week’s winner, Shingo Katayama, Katsunori Kuwabara and Nobuhito Sato. Katayama, however, has now established a significant break atop the money list.

Tanihara was rookie of the year when he joined the Japan Golf Tour full time in 2003 but in 2004 he earned his full playing rights in the US when gaining his 2005 USPGA Tour card via the Tour School late in 2004. He struggled there, finishing 224th on the money list in that season and was back in Japan in 2006.

He has been one of the leading money winners on the Japan Golf Tour since and 2008 would seem to hold another good season in store for him.

Australia’s best was Steve Conran, who continued his good season in 2008 when completing his third top ten in five events when finishing 5th. The New South Welshman is now in 9th position on the money list.

Craig Parry was the next best of the Australians this week in 10th position, Paul Sheehan was 16th, Ryan Haller made his first cut in Japan when 27th, Brendan Jones 33rd, Scott Laycock 55th and Wayne Perske 60th. Jones remains as the leading Australian on the Japan Golf Tour money list in 8th position.

Japan Golf Tour now plays the Mitsubishi Diamond Open in Hyogo Prefecture.