(16 November 2009 – Chonan, Chiba Prefecture, Japan).jpg)
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Japanese players filled the top four places at the Ito En Ladies Golf Tournament on the weekend but none could catch Sakura Yokomine, who completed a wire-to-wire victory. A final round 3-under par 69 gave her a four shot victory and allowed her to close the gap on Shinobu Moromizato at the top of the Money List. Regular visitor to Australia, Ayako Uehara finished alone in second with last season’s Money List winner Miho Koga a shot back in third.
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rnOn a wet weekend, which made the long Great Island Club course play even longer, the players were forced to complete their second rounds early on Sunday morning. Yokomine made a bogey at the last hole and headed to the first tee for her final round at 7-under par with a slender one shot lead over Korea’s Mi-Jeong Jeon. Uehara was third at 5-under with Yui Kawahara in fourth at 4-under.
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rnYokomine made an early move with three birdies in her first four holes and from there cruised through the final round with no players able to make a sustained challenge at any stage. She made the turn with a 5-shot lead with Jeon and Kawahara both playing the front side over par. They would continue to falter over the last nine holes winding up shooting 78 and 79 respectively. Uehara was solid throughout making 2 birdies and a bogey to finish with a 1-under par 71, while Koga made 6 birdies and 4 bogeys for an up and down round of 2-under par 70.
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rnThe tournament belonged to the popular Yokomine who made just four bogeys for the week. After the round she commented on her bright start to the final round by saying, “I started with a birdie and that put me on a roll.” The victory was her fifth of the season and she now has season earnings of ¥149,449,384 (approx AUD$1.79million). This leaves her just ¥3,970,624 (approx AUD$47,500.00) behind Moromizato with two events remaining in the race for the Money List title. After a season-long battle where the two players have won eleven titles between them, Yokomine noted, “I don’t really want to think too much about winning the money title because it will put me under pressure. I have just got to stick to my game in the last two tournaments.”
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rnTamie Durdin made a move of her own up the Money List, jumping up to 20th, after she finished in a tie for 5th at 2-under par total 214. She had made a bright start with an opening round of 3-under par 69 but struggled to find many more birdies on the weekend. It was Durdin&aposs 6th Top-10 of the season including her maiden title in Japan at the Fujisankei Ladies Classic in April. Nikki Campbell remained in 12th place on the Money List after finishing in a tie for 21st at 4-over par total 220.
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Photo by Anthony Powter – Tamie Durdin