Fujishima wins first JGT event
BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2008 Fujisankei Classic | Round Four | 07 Sep 2008
27-year-old Toyokazu Fujishima has outlasted Hiroshi Iwata to win his first Japan Golf Tour event, the Fujisankei Classic, and in doing so denied one of the most consistent players on the Japan Golf Tour, his first career victory.
Fujishima is in his third full season on the Japan Golf Tour but after an opening round of 64 this week at the Fujizakura Country Club, south-west of Tokyo, he had control of this event for much of the four days.
He led by two after both rounds one and two, trailed the Japan Tour’s hottest player Shingo Katayama by one after 54 holes but outgunned his more illustrious playing partners Katayama and Kenichi Kuboya today and held off a strong finishing burst by Iwata in the process.
Iwata produced a last round 65, which included five birdies in his first six holes but while such brilliance was enough to earn him a playoff with Fujishima, he was unable to convert his amazing consistency into his first victory.
Tied in third place and just one shot behind the playoff were Katayama, who bogeyed the final hole today, Kuboya and China’s Weng-Chong Liang the latter of whom recovered from three early dropped shots for his round of 66.
The best of the Australasians was once again Eddie Lee who followed up his tie for third last week with another solid week. Lee finished 35th, Craig Parry and David Smail 42nd, Chris Campbell, Paul Sheehan and Steve Conran 51st,
The Japan Golf Tour now has one week off before the ANA Open in Hokkaido.
