Ryuichi Oda made his first victory in Japan a very special one when he today defeated Yasuharu Imano and Japan’s hottest golfer Ryo Ishikawa in a playoff to win the Japan Golf Open at the Musashi Country Club in Saitama Japan.
Early in the final round it appeared that 18-year-old Ishikawa would win his first Japan Open when he extended his one shot third round lead with a birdie at the first and at that point had taken a three shot lead as his nearest rivals struggled to stay in touch.
Ishikawa had been impressive when bouncing back from a second round of 76 with a third round of 65 to snatch the lead. Perhaps it was the taxing two weeks Ishikawa had experienced that began to take its toll but a double bogey at the 6th and a bogey at the 9th changed the complexion of the tournament.
Early in the final round it appeared that 18-year-old Ishikawa would win his first Japan Open when he extended his one shot third round lead with a birdie at the first and at that point had taken a three shot lead as his nearest rivals struggled to stay in touch.
Ishikawa had been impressive when bouncing back from a second round of 76 with a third round of 65 to snatch the lead. Perhaps it was the taxing two weeks Ishikawa had experienced that began to take its toll but a double bogey at the 6th and a bogey at the 9th changed the complexion of the tournament.