SHENZHEN, China – Zhang Lianwei defeated Japanese ace Shigeki Maruyama 3 and 2 in the final singles match Sunday as Asia comfortably beat Japan 14.5-9.5 to retain the Dynasty Cup.
Tomohiro Kondo, Hiroyuki Fujita and Takashi Kamiyama halved their respective matches but Angelo Que of the Philippines sparked a run of four wins for Asia by defeating Hideki Kase before Zhang’s win over U.S. PGA player Maruyama put the icing on the cake at Mission Hills Golf Club.
It was a disappointing showing all around for Japan as Keiichiro Fukabori and Shingo Katayama were the only Japanese players to win in the 12 individual matches on the final day of the Ryder Cup-style tournament.
The Japanese had been looking to avenge their loss in the inaugural Dynasty Cup in 2003 but non-playing captain Isao Aoki admitted that the better team had won again.
“The players gave it their best shot in unfamiliar surroundings and I know they will be even more disappointed than I am,” Aoki said.
The kid takes it
KIKUYO, Kumamoto Pref. (Kyodo) Nineteen-year-old Sakura Yokomine won her first JLPGA Tour title with a final-round 1-under-par 71 at the Life Card Ladies on Sunday.
Overnight co-leader Yokomine, who finished third at the Studio Alice Ladies Open last weekend, carded two birdies before making the turn at 35 and secured victory with a bogey-birdie-birdie finish at Kumamoto Airport C.C.
“I can’t believe it,” said Yokomine, who joined Julie Lu of Taiwan atop the leaderboard after the par-4 17th and tapped in for a decisive birdie on the final hole. “I thought winning a title was way out of my league, so I’m real excited.”
Lu finished second a stroke behind at 216.
World Cup-winner Ai Miyazato shot her second over-par score this week with a 73 and had to settle for a share of eighth place at 219.
Wire-to-wire for Ward
LAS VEGAS (AP) Wendy Ward kept her cool and her touch around the greens Saturday for a wire-to-wire win in the Takefuji Classic, her first victory in nearly four years.
Ward closed with a 5-under 67 to hold off the charging Lorena Ochoa by two shots with a 16-under 200 total on The Las Vegas Country Club course.
Ward, the 1994 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, had five birdies and no bogeys on the way to her fourth career victory and first since 2001.
Ochoa, who vaulted from a tie for 96th into a tie for fourth with a 63 the previous day, went low again with a 65.
Shi Hyun Ahn shot a 63 to tie for third at 13-under with Paula Creamer, an 18-year-old LPGA Tour rookie who had a 65. Another teenager, 16-year-old South Korean amateur In Bee Park, finished fifth at 12-under after a 67.
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.