(Kyodo,Chiba Pref., Japan)
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Japanese legend, Yuri Fudoh won her 4th title for the year at the Fujitsu Ladies on Sunday after overcoming compatriot Yuko Mitsuka in a tense five-hole playoff. Fudoh fired rounds of 69, 68 and 66 to finish at 13-under par total 203. Japan’s Keiko Sasaki finished in outright third place, three shots out of the playoff on 10-under par total 206.
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Mitsuka, on 14-under par, headed into the final round with a 6-shot lead over Akiko Fukushima, with Fudoh a further shot behind in a tie for third. Through nine holes, the lead was still five shots and it appeared Mitsuka was on her way to a comfortable victory. However, Fudoh peeled off three birdies on the inward nine at the 10th, 13th and 15th holes while Mitsuka made bogeys at the 13th and 17th to finish in a tie and head to extra holes. The playoff lasted five holes before Fudoh made a tap-in par and Mitsuka’s own par putt lipped out, handing Fudoh her 46th career title and the ¥14.4million prize money.
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Nikki Campbell has continued her good recent form, finishing in a tie for 11th at 4-under par total 212. Tamie Durdin, who went into the final round in 5th place, faded with a final round 3-over par 75 to finish in a tie for 15th, one stroke behind Campbell on 3-under par total 213. While Campbell has secured her card, Durdin needs further good results to be assured of playing rights in 2009. Her prizemoney of ¥1,120,000 saw her move up 5 spots to 56th on the money list, just ¥1,656,791 outside the all-important Top-50 who keep their cards without having to return to the dreaded Q-School.