Hiroyuki Fujita came from four shots behind to win the Sun Chlorella Classic in a playoff Sunday for his second career victory and first in four years on the Japanese tour.
Fujita birdied two of the final three holes in a final-round 68 and then beat veteran Katsuyoshi Tomori on the first extra hole after both players finished the 72-hole tournament at 5-under 283.
The victory worth 22 million yen lifted the 32-year-old Fujita to second place on the money list with 46.9 million yen, nearly 10 million yen behind leader Hidemichi Tanaka.
Fujita, who began the day four shots off the pace, picked up two strokes through 15 holes with four birdies and two bogeys before making a 10-footer at No. 16 and a 7-footer at No. 18 to catch Tomori. Katsumune Imai shot a 69 to move into a tie for third at 284 with Yasunori Ida, who had a 72, and third-round leader Hajime Meshiai, whose double-bogey six at No. 2 proved costly in a round of 73. Defending champion Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki finished at 1-under 287 after a 71, which included a hole-in-one.
Fudo triumphs
NARITA, Chiba Pref. (Kyodo) Overnight leader Yuri Fudo could only produce a sluggish 1-over-par 73 on Sunday but still managed to secure a three-stroke victory at the Vernal Open ladies golf tournament.
Fudo, teeing off with a four-shot advantage, carded three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey for a 54-hole total of 9-under 207 to finish ahead of Hisako Ogane.
Toshimi Kimura and Ikuyo Shiotani shared third place after both finished at 212.