(23 April 2012 – Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan)
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22-year-old Kaori Ohe collected her first LPGA of Japan tournament, holding on to win the Fujisankei Ladies Classic by one shot over South Korea&aposs Mi-Jeong Jeon. A trio of Japanese players finished in a tie for third: Sakura Yokomine, Mayu Hattori and Yuko Fukuda.
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rnOhe started the final round t2wo shots behind the experienced Akane Iijima; however it wasn’t to be Iijima’s day, firing a final round of 4-over par 76 to fall back into a tie for 6th at 5-under par. Ohe took over the lead late in her front nine and from there on it looked like only a disaster could prevent her winning her maiden title. With seven holes to go, she held a six stroke lead and seemed to be cruising.
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rnIt seemed as if the nerve’s had eventuated when Ohe made a bogey at the 12th hole and her lead was back to 5 shots. Seeing what was going on up ahead of her would have also done nothing for the nerves: Hattori, Yokomine and Fukuda all making numerous birdies each on the back nine to get themselves in contention. The leader steadied herself with pars at her next three holes, following that with a birdie at the 16th to get it back to 11-under and looking comfortable. Jeon finished at 8-under with a birdie on the last.
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rnA par at the 17th solidified her comfort level but a nervous double bogey on the last made the win seem closer than it probable was, but again, it proves that golf tournaments are never over until that final putt hits the bottom of the cup. Talking about her nerves, Ohe said after her win; “I was in the last group on the final day last week, too, so I wasn&apost that nervous today. But I had a double bogey at the end which wasn&apost pretty. I didn&apost get the feeling I&aposd won right away.” She had done enough though and she collected ¥14,400,000 (approx AUD$ 170,000) for her troubles.
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rnNikki Campbell was the only Australian representative, finishing in a tie for 30th at 2-over par.
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