(10 August 2009 – Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Japan)
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Japan&aposs Momoko Ueda, who is based on the US LPGA Tour returned to capture another win on home soil, defeating compatriot Chie Arimura and Korean Ji-Hee Lee on the second hole of a playoff. It was the 9th time Ueda has won on the LPGA of Japan after the three players finished on 11-under par total 205.
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rnAfter two rounds there were 16 players within three shots of the lead with a host of highly ranked players in the mix, including World No.4 Jiyai Shin. Money list leader, Sakura Yokomine, along with Koreans So-Hee Kim and Hyun Ju Shin held a one-shot lead but none of the three could make the playoff after rounds of 74 (T12), 71 (T5) and 74 (T12) respectively.
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rnUeda and Lee both fired rounds of 4-under par 68, while Arimura shot 5-under, all to get to 11-under par. While Lee went bogey-free, Ueda had 6 birdies and two bogeys with Arimura making 5 birdies in her last 8 holes to get herself into the playoff.
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rnThe three players went back to the 18th and Arimura was first to fall by the wayside after a bogey the first time around. Lee looked in the box seat off the tee the second time with Ueda deep in the right rough. However, a sublime iron shot from 130 yards saw Ueda hit the pin for a tap-in birdie. Lee missed her own birdie opportunity and Ueda collected the ¥14,400,000 (approx AUD$176,000.00) winner’s cheque.
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rnAustralia’s Nikki Campbell continued her recent good form, shooting a final round of 4-under par 68 to climb the leaderboard to finish in a tie for 12th. Tamie Durdin unfortunately missed the cut after a second round of 77.
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Photo by Anthony Powter – Nikki Campbell