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Monday November 30, 2009

Oda defends crown as Ishikawa fever triggers cart accident

KOCHI: Japan’s Komei Oda shot a seven-under 65 to beat back overnight co-leaders Ryo Ishikawa (pic) and Shigeki Maruyama and retain the Casio Open golf tournament yesterday.

The 31-year-old Oda carded seven birdies and no bogeys for a four-round total of 21-under 267 to earn a three-stroke victory ahead of Ishikawa.

“I played my best golf today. I feel better than I did in my previous two wins,” Oda said after clinching his third career title. His first was the Casio Open last year.

“What mattered the most was I ended the final two rounds without a bogey.

“It’s good to win. I concentrated really well today. I gained momentum after I birdied the eighth and ninth holes.”

Ishikawa sank six birdies and two bogeys for a 68 to take second place on 270, followed by Tetsuji Hiratsuka in third on 272.

Maruyama carded a 72 to tie in seventh place with compatriot Kaname Yokoo and Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand on 274.

Meanwhile, the media and fan frenzy surrounding Japanese teen star Ishikawa ignited a cart accident yesterday.

A cart carrying a TV crew hit and injured four women on a paved road where swarms of spectators were moving after watching overnight co-leader Ishikawa tee off on the par-three second hole, police said.

“One of the women in her 30s was taken to hospital with a head injury,” a duty officer at the local Aki police station said.

Police said there were about 3,700 people in the gallery at the Kuroshio Country Club, as the 18-year-old Ishikawa vies to become the youngest-ever top money earner on the Japan Tour.

Ishikawa won the KSB Cup in May 2007 as a 15-year-old amateur, making him the youngest winner of any event on one of the world’s six major tours.

He has won six Japanese titles, including four this year. — AFP

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