UBS Japan Golf Tour Championship Shishido Hills

Ibaraki, Japan, July 6 2008 - Hidemasa Hoshino posted the biggest win of his career in smashing fashion at the UBS Japan Golf Tour Championship, cruising to victory after completely dominating the final day of action at Japan’s ‘players championship’.

Opening the final day with a three-stroke lead, the 30-year-old posted birdies at the second and fifth holes to open an insurmountable lead and crush the challenge of the chasing pack.

Bogeys at 10 and 11 briefly brought his lead back into normal range, although it was quickly restored with birdies at 12 and 15 to get back on track. A bogey on the 72nd hole may have taken the gloss off the champion’s stroll up the 18th, but his last-day one-under 70 was enough for an aggregate of 12-under 272 and an impressive five-stroke victory.

Said Hoshino: “What I have been concentrating on is how to keep my body in top condition and not to get as tired, which you need on a tough course like this. For these kind of ‘major’ tournaments you really need to be good at everything - driving, second shots and playing fades and draws - and this week I was.

“This is also the first time I have won with my parents watching. I think I have given them a great present!” said the champion.

In addition to a cheque for \30,000 and a unique silver trophy commissioned by UBS, Hoshino earned a place at the US$8 million Bridgestone Invitational. The World Golf Championship tournament, played from July 31-August 3 at Firestone Country Club in the United States, was won by Tiger Woods for the sixth time in 2007.

The UBS Japan Golf Tour Championship was Hoshino’s third Tour victory and pushed him into third place on the money list, behind only Prayad Marksaeng and Shingo Katayama.

Brendan Jones, an eight-time winner in Japan, and Takao Nogami shared second place, with Daisuke Maruyama and Kenichi Kuboya another shot back in equal fourth at six-under 278. Lee Dong-hwan of Korea was in sixth position, one more shot behind, after he placed third here last year.

Defending champion Katayama endured a miserable weekend, rounds of 74-73 relegating him to joint 15th and a total of two-over, while Prayad tied 18th one more shot back. UBS’s sponsor invitation players Zhang Lian-wei and Noh Seung-yul finished tied 26th and 29th respectively.

One of the most prestigious events in Japanese golf, the UBS Japan Golf Tour Championship was played amongst the forests of Ibaraki Prefecture, about an hour northeast of Tokyo.

Ibaraki, Japan, July 5 2008 - Hidemasa Hoshino stormed to the 54-hole lead at the UBS Japan Golf Tour Championship this afternoon, posting his second consecutive five-under 66 to lead by three strokes at the ‘players’ championship’ of Japan.

Hoshino, two times a winner in Japan, posted matching nines of 33, as he moved to a three-day aggregate of 11-under 202. Overnight leader Kenichi Kuboya and Hiroshi Iwata are the closest challengers, although, with a three-shot deficit, will need fast starts on Sunday to pressure the leader.

Considered the ‘players championship’ of Japanese men’s golf, the UBS Japan Golf Tour Championship is taking place amongst the forests of Ibaraki Prefecture, about an hour northeast of Tokyo.

Said Hoshino: “I didn’t think too much about the score I wanted to shoot, but just wanted to concentrate. If I missed anything, I know I can correct it immediately and I feel much improved.

“For the final round, I just want to do what I have done for these first three days. Not to think too much about things and to keep it simple and play in my rhythm,” said Hoshino.

The pack chasing the 30-year-old Hoshino tomorrow could have been even more dangerous, with players such as Brendan Jones and Shingo Katayama struggling down the stretch. Jones, an eight-time winner, was just one shot off the pace at one point but two late bogeys left him to be tied for fourth five shots behind the leader.

Said Jones: “I am really disappointed with my score today, especially on the last two holes. I started really well and had great confidence until those last couple of holes and I am really upset. Tomorrow, I have to forget about today’s mistakes and start well and finish well.”

Katayama, the popular defending champion, posted a three-over 74 to fall back to even par, with a monumental effort in front of him to claim consecutive titles. A horror back nine of 40, including six bogeys, pushed him to the fringes of contention.

The winner of the last two Japan Tour events and money list leader, Thai Prayad Marksaeng, is tied for 13th, after a one-under 70 today, with Tommy Nakajima also slipping, back to equal 42nd in this case.

Ibaraki, Japan, July 4 2008 - Making a name for himself at one of Japan’s most prestigious tournaments, Kenichi Kuboya maintained his lead at the halfway stage at the UBS Japan Golf Tour Championship this afternoon.

Riding a hot putter, which he needed just 26 times in warm afternoon conditions, the 36-year-old posted four birdies and a single bogey in a round of three-under 68. His aggregate of seven-under 135 sees Kuboya head Hiroshi Iwata, who recently qualified for the Open Championship, and Hidemasa Hishino by a single stroke.

Considered the ‘players championship’ of Japanese men’s golf, the UBS Japan Golf Tour Championship is taking place amongst the forests of Ibaraki Prefecture, about an hour northeast of Tokyo.

Said Kuboya: “I played much the same as I did yesterday, not hitting the ball in the rough. I am not a really strong iron player, but, as long as you can keep the ball on the fairway, you can get good results here. I did not use my driver on many holes, preferring to use my fairway woods.”

Although the four-time winner holds the lead, the chasing pack will pose a formidable challenge over the weekend.

Brendan Jones and SK Ho, both regular winners in Japan, are amongst three players at a five-under total, while Lee Dong-hwan (four-under), defending champion Shingo Katayama (three-under) and Chinese golfing legend Zhang Lian-wei (two-under) are easily within striking distance.

Said Zhang, who ran equal seventh at Shishido Hills last year: “I was really steady and was three-under until I reached the 18th hole. I hooked my driver left and it landed in the rough and I ended with a bogey. Other than that, I’m quite happy with my game.”

The winner of the last two Japan Tour events and money list leader, Thai Prayad Marksaeng, is tied for 14th, just six shots back, with Tommy Nakajima is even-par.

However, young superstar Ryo Ishikawa failed to make the cut after finishing at a total of eight-over par. Playing in the same group, UBS sponsor invite Noh Seung-yul from Korea won the battle of the young guns, surviving a last-hole bogey to make the cut on the mark of plus-six.

Ibaraki, Japan, July 3 2008 - A superb round of four-under-par 67 has propelled Kenichi Kuboya into the lead after day one of the UBS Japan Golf Tour Championship, one of the most prestigious tournaments in Japan.

Considered the ‘players championship’ of Japanese men’s golf, this week’s event is taking place amongst the forests of Ibaraki Prefecture, about an hour northeast of Tokyo. In 2007, it was the flamboyant king of Japanese men’s golf Shingo Katayama that clinched the victory.

Four birdies in a blemish-free opening nine holes saw Kuboya rocket up the leaderboard, with an even-par back nine enough for the four-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour to secure the top spot. The 36-year-old heads two players, Korean Lee Dong-hwan and Hiroshi Iwata, by one stroke, with another pair - Satoru Hirota and SK Ho - at two-under after 18 holes.

Said Kuboya: “This season, I have only made three cuts and I have not had the chance to be at the top of the leaderboard. However, at last, I have a chance to be on top and it made me feel very comfortable. Tomorrow, I hope to stay calm and stay at the top.”

The winner of the last two Japan Tour events and money list leaser, Thai Prayad Marksaeng, and Brendan Jones are tied at one-under. Amongst the other big names Katayama and Tommy Nakajima both finished with a 73.

Meanwhile, young superstar Ryo Ishikawa struggled to make an impact. An early birdie at the second had the record first day crowds at Shishido Hills in rapture, but a double-bogey at the seventh and five back nine bogeys offset his lone additional birdie at the 10th in a round of 76.

Said Ishikawa: “Today my driver was stable and I was happy with my tee shots. For this course, I can use the driver a lot and I am looking forward to that tomorrow. I am not too worried about my putting.”

Playing in the same group, UBS sponsor invite Noh Seung-yul from Korea posted a respectable two-over 73 in his Japan Golf Tour Championship debut to be in a tie for 33rd.

After struggling to an outward nine of three-over 39, a chip-in for birdie at the 16th, where UBS is offering a one-kilogramme gold bar for a hole-in-one, highlighted an impressive back nine. With narrow misses on both the 17th and 18th, the round could have been even better.

Said Noh: “Overall, I’m quite pleased. I made a few mistakes that I shouldn't have though. It's my first time playing in a professional tournament in Japan, so I was a bit nervous at first but midway through I was much more relaxed. Now that I’ve soaked in the atmosphere here, I am eager to keep a low score and make it through the weekend rounds.”

UBS’s remaining invites had difficult days, with Artemio Murakami of the Philippines and Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant in danger of missing the weekend cut. Zhang Lian-wei, who finished seventh here a year ago, posted a steady even-par 71 in the same group as Katayama.

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