Japan&aposs Mayu Hattori completed her first career victory at the Hisako Higuchi IDC Otsuka Ladies on Sunday. She peeled off rounds of 70, 71 and 69 for a 6-under par total of 210 to finish one-shot in front of Korea’s Esther Lee. Japanese pair Maiko Wakabayashi and Chie Arimura finished a further shot behind to tie for third.
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The final day started with Arimura holding a two-shot lead over Lee and Japan’s Michie Ohba. There were ten players at 2-under or better chasing Arimura and all with a realistic shot at the title with 18 holes remaining. The leader started the final round with a birdie but her game wasn’t in the groove on the day. She went to the 18th hole needing a par to tie with Hattori but wound up with a double-bogey to fall back to third. Conversely, it appeared Lee had thrown away her chances early with three bogeys in five holes from the 11th sending her tumbling from the lead. However, she persevered and made birdies at both the 16th and 18th to eventually move ahead of Arimura into the runner-up spot.
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Hattori, at just 20 year’s of age and in just her second professional season kept a level head when not much was going her way. Through 12 holes she was even par for the day and three shots out of the lead before things turned her way with birdies at the 13th, 16th and 17th holes to move to the winning score. This included a monster putt from 50-feet for birdie, which she said later was a “miracle”, admitting, “I was just thinking that I could save par in that situation.”
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Nikki Campbell was the best of the Australians, finishing in a tie for 20th at 1-over par total 217. Tamie Durdin finished in a tie for 42nd at 5-over par total 221. She remains at 57th on the money list with 4 events remaining.