Marksaeng finally wins in Japan

BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2008 Mitsubishi Diamond Cup Golf | Round Four | 01 Jun 2008

Prayad Marksaeng today won his first Japan Golf Tour title after seven years of trying, including many near misses, when he secured the Mitsubishi Diamond Cup title at the Higashi Hirono Golf Club near Kobe.

The 42-year-old Thai, who was playing in the final group of the day, birdied the par five 72nd hole to earn a one shot victory over Shintaro Kai, while Hiroshi Iwata, Shingo Katayama and third round leader, Hidemasa Hoshino, shared third just one shot back.

A winner of six titles on the Asian Tour in his 13 year career, including his most significant at the 2007 Volvo Masters of Asia, Marksaeng has been a consistent performer in Japan since joining that Tour in 2001. Today he took full advantage of a mid-round slump by Hoshino, who had threatened to walk away with the title when he birdied two of the first four holes and developed a three shot lead.

Slowly Marksaeng reeled Hoshino in and was able to edge ahead at the final hole to win by one over Kai, who was looking for his first JPGA Tour victory also. Kai staged a strong finish over the closing eight holes including an eagle at the 12th and two consecutive birdies to finish but it was not enough to hold out Marksaeng.

Australian, Paul Sheehan, looked well placed to win his fourth Japan Tour title, and his first since the Japan Open in 2006, when he trailed by one heading into the final day but he self-destructed by dropping three shots in his first three holes and eventually finished with a round of 76 to finish in a tied for 17th.

The best of the Australasians was David Smail, who recovered from a slow start to the event to finish in a share of 11th after only just making the cut on Friday. Steve Conran was 14th, Brendan Jones 22nd, Craig Parry 31st, Chris Campbell and Eddie Lee 44th and Craig Jones 60th.

The Japan Golf Tour now faces a two week break before the Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open, so called because the event essentially offers Japan Golf Tour players a chance to qualify for the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. The leading four players in that event not otherwise qualified will earn a start in Southport in mid-July.