(24 October 2011 – Miki, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan)
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Japan&aposs Shiho Oyama prevailed in a playoff against American star Paula Creamer to claim her first victory in three years at the Masters GC Ladies on Sunday. Oyama and Creamer both finished at 7-under par with Ayako Uehara in outright third just one shot outside the playoff.
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rnOyama has fought through injury issues, and had not won an event since 2008. She teed off her final round in a tie for 5th, two shots behind compatriots Yuri Fudoh and Yukari Baba while Uehara and Akane Iijima were just one behind the leaders. It was a tightly 
packed leaderboard with 18 players within 4 shots of the lead, one of those being Creamer at even par, four behind the leaders.
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rnIn the end, it was just the supreme play of Oyama and Creamer that overtook the leaders, firing rounds of 5-under par 67 and 7-under par 65 respectively. With Creamer in the clubhouse at 7-under Oyama needed a birdie at the final hole in regulation just to get into the playoff. And that she did, albeit after draining a 50-foot (15-metre) putt on the final green to send the crowd into raptures.
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rnOyama had some luck with her birdie at the third extra hole, where she pushed her drive into the gallery before the ball bounced onto the fairway. It was her 12th victory on the Japanese women&aposs tour and she collected ¥22.14 million in prize money (approx AU$280,000). It was Oyama&aposs first victory since winning the same tournament in 2008.
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rn“This is the happiest I&aposve felt in my life,” said Oyama. “I kind of lost my motivation after injuring my elbow but so many people have supported me.” Oyama reached the pinnacle of golf in her home country with five victories in 2006 and Queen of the Money List. She reached the lowest point of her career in 2009 with only three appearances due to injury so it is easy to understand why she was thrilled with her win.
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rnTamie Durdin finished off the tournament well with a final round of 1-under par 71 to climb into a tie for 32nd at 4-over par. She remains in 43rd on the Money List with five tournaments left to play, just one spot behind Nikki Campbell. Both players will be desperate to make a few cuts in the final events, hoping to avoid the dreaded trip back to q-school, with only the Top-50 keeping their card for 2012.
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