Eddie Lee claims third behind Kai at KBC
BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2008 KBC Augusta | Round Four | 31 Aug 2008
27-year-old Shintaro Kai has backed up his good early season form by winning his first Japan Golf Tour title at the Vana H KBC Augusta event in Fukuoka in southern Japan.
Kai was twice runner up earlier in the 2008 Japan Golf Tour season but today was able to convert his one shot third round lead by holding off spirited challenges from Hidemasa Hoshino and a group of four players who finished two behind including New Zealander Eddie Lee.
Kai moves to 5th on the Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit with A$475,000, A$150,000 behind leader, Prayad Marksaeng.
24-year-old Lee, in his second season in Japan, recovered from an opening round of 74 with rounds of 69 and 72 to be well placed heading into the final day and an early onslaught had him just one behind Kai through 14 holes of his final round.
Lee, who was playing nearly an hour ahead of the final group, was unable to secure the extra two birdies he would need to contend for his first title in Japan but for the young man who has struggled through much of his professional career, this was an encouraging tournament and perhaps a turning point.
He finished in a share of third, earned ¥4.8 million and moved to 49th on the money list.
Steve Conran, the next best of the Australasians, moved to 7 under for the tournament through nine holes today but he was unable to make any further progress and finished in a share of 7th. Chris Campbell was 30th, Scott Laycock was 37th and Ryan Haller 45th.
The Japan Golf Tour now moves north to the Yamanishi Prefecture south and west of Tokyo for this week’s Fujisankei Classic.
