(12 July 2010 – Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan)
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33-year-old Japanese superstar Yuri Fudoh is just one win away from her 50th career victory after collecting her 49th at the Meiji Chocolate Cup on Sunday. A birdie at the final hole gave Fudoh a one shot triumph over Korea&aposs Ji-Woo Lee with the Japanese pair of Yui Kawahara and Saiki Fujita a further shot back in third place.
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Fudoh began the final day at 8-under par, a slim one shot lead over Lee and Kawahara with Japan’s Yuki Ichinose a shot further back at 6-under. The day began brightly for both Fudoh and Lee, who managed three and four birdies respectively and no bogeys around the front nine. This gave them a share of the lead with Kawahara now two shots behind, while Ichinose dropped off the pace with two bogeys on her way to a final round 77 and 21st place.
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Lee, whose best finish was a runner-up finish in four years on tour, looked like she might better that performance when she took the lead with her fifth birdie of the day on the 11th hole and the momentum seemed to be going her way. Fudoh, the consummate professional, hit back with a birdie on the 14th hole but her share of the lead was short-lived with a bogey at the very next hole. Meanwhile, Kawahara wasn’t out of it after her fourth birdie of the day at the 16th saw her move back to within two shots of the lead with two to play.
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The birdies had dried up for Lee, playing holes 12-16 in par. She then hit an errant tee shot at the par-3 17th hole and could only manage a bogey, meaning both her and Fudoh walked to the final tee even at 11-under par with Kawahara just a shot behind. In the end, only Fudoh could make the necessary birdie and so moved that step closer to the exclusive 50-win club. With Sakura Yokomine playing at the Us Women’s Open, Fudoh also moved to the top of the Money List with season earnings of ¥47,174,533 (approx. AUD$606,022.00).
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Nikki Campbell had another consistent tournament with rounds of 73, 71 and 70 to finish in a tie for 15th. It is the 12th time in 15 starts this season that Campbell has placed inside the Top-20, including two runner-up finishes. Campbell lies in 12th place on the Money List with season earnings of ¥27,324,475 (approx. AUD$351,020.00).
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