Katayama wins his first Visa Taiheiyo
BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2008 Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters | Round Four | 16 Nov 2008
Shingo Katayama made it win number 26 on the Japan Golf Tour when he defeated Yasuharu Imano in a playoff for the Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters after Katayama had birdied the par five 72nd hole to draw level with the third round leader.
Despite Katayama’s domination of Japan Golf Tour events in recent years it was his first win in the prestigious event in Gotemba and moves him to the fourth position on the all time money list in that country. The 35-year-old Katayama has now earned ￥1,447,670,424 ($A23 million) in his career on the Japan Golf Tour and trails only Jumbo Ozaki, Tommy Nakajima and Joe Ozaki.
Brendan Jones did well when defending his title finishing in a share of 7th. Jones finished as the leading Australian and his cheque for ￥5,895,000 ($A93,000) moves him to 10th on this year’s Japan Golf Tour money list.
Steve Conran was 16th, David Smail 21st, Chris Campbell 32nd, Craig Parry 47th, Wayne Perske 55th and Paul Sheehan 62nd.
The Japan Golf Tour will now play their flagship event outside of the Japan Open the Dunlop Phoneix in Miyazaki with a field that will include amongst others Ernie Els and Henrik Stenson.
