Australian Richard Backwell captured his first title in eight years on the Japanese pro tour Sunday, defeating Hidemichi Tanaka in a playoff to win the 100 million yen Tsuruya Open golf tournament.
Backwell rolled in a par putt on the fourth extra hole at the Sports Shinko Country Club to pocket the 20 million yen first prize after Tanaka failed to recover from a misjudged approach to the par-5 17th.
When Backwell sank a dramatic hole-in-one on the par-3 16th during the final round, the 38-year-old Brisbane native had jumped into a two-stroke lead with two to play, only to get a bout of the yips on No. 17 which resulted in a double-bogey seven.
His 3-under-par 69 left him in the clubhouse at 10-under 278, but Tanaka, the overnight leader, wasted a chance for his seventh career title as he bogeyed the final hole of a 73 to set up the sudden-death playoff, contested alternately on holes 18 and 17.
"It's been a dream of mine to win on the Japanese tour, although I didn't expect to win in a playoff. I've waited for this for a long time," Backwell said afterward.
Tanaka's playing partner Nobuhito Sato finished in sole possession of third place on 9-under 279 after a final-round 72.
Yoneyama triumphs
KIKUYO, Kumamoto Pref. (Kyodo) Midori Yoneyama capitalized on the collapse of her pursuers while shooting a serviceable even-par 72 Sunday to win the Saishunkan Ladies tournament by three shots.
Watching overnight co-leader Lee O Soon of South Korea fade out of contention early on, the 1999 Rookie of the Year Yoneyama carded three birdies and as many bogeys to pick up her second Japan LPGA victory with a 4-under 212 total.