Japan win 1st Women's Golf WC
Brad Morgan
14 February 2005
Led by teenager Ai Miyazato, Japan captured the inaugural Women's World Cup of Golf at The Links at Fancourt, near George in the Western Cape, the scene of a sensational President's Cup tie between the Rest of the World and the USA in 2003.
19-year-old Miyazato fired a brilliant six-under par 67 in the final day singles to guide the Japanese to a two-shot victory over the Philippines and South Korea, on three-under par 289. Her playing partner, Rui Kitada, struggled to a nine-over par 82 on the final day, but the Japanese had enough shots in hand to take an emotional victory.
After both scored par fives on the final hole to secure the win, they burst into tears of joy. Not only had they became the first World Cup holders, they had also netted a winners' cheque of US$200 000 (R1.2-million).
Philippines close the gap
The Philippines, with the lowest aggregate score of the day, closed the gap on Japan to
just two shots as Jennifer Rosales posted a two-under 71 and Dorothy Delasin a 75.
South Korea took three more shots over the final 18 holes as Jeong Jang went around in 74 and Bo Bae Song in 75.
Scotland, who had shared the lead with Japan after two rounds, fell away in the final round as Janice Moodie slumped to an 80. Catriona Matthew, with a 72, held it together for the Scots, who eventually had to settle for fourth place, three shots behind Japan on 292.
A new superstar?
The competition was a great success for Miyazato, who is regarded as a superstar in Japan, where she is viewed in a similar light to the young American Michelle Wie. There is one difference, though. Wie remains an amateur, while Miyazato won five tournaments on Japan's LPGA as a rookie, becoming the first Japanese teenager to earn over US$1-million in a year.
Just how big a star is Miyazato in Japan? Well, in November of last year she won the Japan LPGA
while Tiger Woods was busy winning the Dunlop Phoenix, also in Japan. The two events went head-to-head on television - and Miyazato drew far higher ratings than Woods.
Next up, she says, she wants to play in the USA. It could be that at Fancourt, the USA and the rest of the world truly noticed the birth of a superstar for the first time.
SA's performance
South Africa's rising young star, Ashleigh Simon, at 14 the youngest player in the field, closed with a two-over par 75, while Laurette Maritz posted a 76. That left the hosts 10 shots behind the winners on an aggregate of 299.
Pre-tournament favourites England fared only two shots better, while the other favourites, the USA and Sweden, finished below the South Africans. The Americans ended on 301, while the Swedes were four shots worse on 305.
The powerful looking Australians, Karrie Webb and Rachel Hetherington, finished in fifth place on 294.
Final
placings
289 Japan
291 Philippines, South Korea
292 Scotland
294 Australia
295 Canada, Wales
296 Mexico
297 England
298 Spain, Italy
299 South Africa
300 Finland
301 USA
304 France
305 Sweden
310 Malaysia
314 New Zealand
325 Austria
321 Germany
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