Zhang Na kept her lead from the first round to become the first
Chinese woman to win a title on the Japan tour at the Suntory
Ladies Open women's golf tournament on Sunday.
Zhang, who started playing in Japan only this year, carded one
birdie against two bogeys to score a 73 at the Rokko Kokusai Golf
Club for a four-round total of 10-under-par 278.?
"I was a bit nervous," admitted Zhang, who received the winner's
cheque of 14.4 million yen ($118,032) in her ninth tournament
here.
She birdied the first hole, but her lead was reduced to two when
Japan's Shiho Oyama sank a birdie on the 16th hole. She said later
that she didn't watch the scoreboard at all.
"There are only some 40 female professional golfers in China,
and most of them are not young golfers. But with this victory,
young female golfers will increase in China, for sure," said
Zhang.
Oyama finished second three strokes behind and her compatriot
Erina Hara third one stroke further back.
Up-and-coming local hope Momoko Ueda was fourth place tied with
fellow Japanese Shinobu Moromizato, Yuri Fudo and Mikiyo Nishizuka
all on 283.
(China Daily via AFP?June 12, 2007)
