(4 July 2011 – Toyama, Toyama Prefecture, Japan)
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Japan&aposs Ayako Uehara began her final round with five straight birdies, added another two on the front nine and then held on for a one-shot victory at the Niichiko Women’s Open on Sunday. Stunned by the early onslaught, overnight leader Bo-Bae Song fought hard all day to finish in second place while Korea’s Ah-Reum Hwang finished in outright third.
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rnHeading into the final round, Song, at 11-under par, held a one shot buffer over Uehara and Junko Omote, with Hwang and Hyun-Ju Shin a further two shots back in 4th place and the only other likely contenders. However, Uehara put paid to anyone else’s thoughts of winning the tournament with a front nine of 7-under par 29, tying a Japanese LPGA record. Song herself started with two birdies and added another at the 9th hole to make the turn three shots behind Uehara.
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rnBoth Uehara and Song made par at the 10th hole before Song edged a shot closer with a birdie at the par-4 11th hole. They then matched pars for the next five holes and the lead remained at two shots. However there was a little more drama left when Uehara made her only bogey for the day and just her second of the tournament at the par-4 17th hole.
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rnThey headed to the par-5 18th with Uehara just one in front but both made regulation pars and the diminutive Uehara had her third career title. After presentations she said, “This is my first title in a long while; and it made me realise again just how good it feels to win. I feel like I’m a better player both technically and mentally than when I won my first two tournaments.”
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rnUehara, who is only 160cm tall, has made regular trips to Australia in the past. She won her first tournament in 2008 and second in 2009 and has finished in the Top-25 on the money list in the previous four seasons and currently sits 9th on the 2011 Money List.
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rnNikki Campbell and Tamie Durdin both had a tournament to forget, both missing the cut.