(5 October 2009 – Abiko, Chiba Prefecture, Japan)
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South Korea&aposs Bo Bae Song defeated a star-studded line up to win the 2009 Japan Women&aposs Open on Sunday. In the end, it took a superb birdie on the first playoff hole with Sakura Yokomine to claim the victory, after both players finished the regulation 72-holes at 11-under par, total 277. It was a who’s who of Japanese golf that filled the rest of the Top-5 with Ai Miyazato in third, Money List leader Shinobu Moromizato in fourth and Yuri Fudoh in fifth.
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rnAnother Japanese star in the making and LPGA Player, Mika Miyazato lead by four shots at 11-under par at the start of the final round, with Song and Japan’s Akiko Fukushima tied for second. There was another three shots back to Yokomine, Ai Miyazato and Moromizato who all began the final day on 4-under par, seven shots behind and seemingly battling for the minor placings. However, it all started to unravel for Mika Miyazato early in her round with bogeys on the first three holes. On the other hand, Song had rattled off three birdies in the first five holes to forge a two shot lead at 10-under par. Yokomine had also started her run with an eagle at the 1st, gave those shots back with a double on the 3rd before a run of four birdies in six holes from the 4th saw her reach 8-under and make the turn also just two off the pace. Ai Miyazato herself was just a further shot back with a three birdies on the front nine to sit on 7-under par with nine to play.
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rnMika Miyazato’s slide was enhanced with bogeys on the 11th, 15th and 18th holes, finishing with a disappointing final round of 78, good enough for tied 6th. Yokomine continued her run at the leaders with birdies at the 12th, 14th and 18th holes to reach the clubhouse in the lead at 11-under par. Meanwhile, Song was playing solid but unspectacular golf posting 8 pars and a birdie on the back nine to reach 11-under and force a playoff. She then went on to win the playoff with a spectacular birdie on the first extra hole. It was the 23-year-old’s first victory and she couldn’t have picked a better tournament to win, collecting the richest winner’s on the LPGA of Japan, ¥28,000,000 (approx. AUD$360,000.00). She moved up to 8th on the Money List with season earnings of ¥47,037,600 (approx. AUD$606,000.00). Moromizato stills leads the race for the winner of the Money List with ¥141,987,200 (approx. AUD$1.8million).
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rnNikki Campbell, as she so regularly does, proved she is a big-tournament player, finishing in a tie for 10th at 3-under par total 285. If it hadn’t been for a third round of 4-over par 76, Campbell would have found herself well in contention on Sunday afternoon. Tamie Durdin carded a disappointing second round of 78 after opening with a 4-under par 68. In the end she finished in a tie for 36th at 5-over par.
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Photo on home page by Anthony Powter – Nikki Campbell