NAHA, Okinawa Pref. — Tetsuji Hiratsuka shot a 70 Friday to establish a three-shot advantage at the midway point of the Japan Open, the third major of the season on the JGTO Tour.Hiratsuka, one of only three players to go under par in the second round on another blustery day at the par-71 Naha Golf Club, made six birdies against five bogeys to close at 1-over 143.The 40-year-old Hiratsuka, who claimed his most recent victory at the 2011 Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open, moved three clear of Komei Oda."I didn't play particularly well, but the shots that made the fairway led to the chances that just happened to go in the cup for me," said Hiratsuka, a six-time winner on the tour."It was still really windy around the halfway point. I thought it had died down after around three holes after the turn but the wind and the rain came. I am not used to the wind and I just took a very conservative approach and tried to avoid double bogeys."Oda picked up one shot through 10 holes but unraveled with three bogeys coming home and had a 2-over 73.Local favorite Yusaku Miyazato matched the day's low score of 69 and was tied with 57-year-old Tsuneyuki Nakajima (74), current money rankings leader Hiroyuki Fujita (73), Kenichi Kuboya (73) and overnight coleader Nobuhito Sato (75).China's Wu Ashun and Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines were tied for eighth at 6 over.Last week's Canon Open winner Yuta Ikeda shared 16th place at 8 over after a 72. Promising amateur Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Ishikawa were at 11 and 12 over, respectively, but Shingo Katayama and old-timers Isao Aoki and Jumbo Ozaki missed the cut.
Showing posts with label holds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holds. Show all posts
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Dufner holds nerve to claim first PGA victory
AVONDALE, Louisiana — Jason Dufner was more nervous about a putt under 2 feet on a playoff hole at the Zurich Classic than about getting married next weekend. His recent late-tournament struggles made it easy to understand why.
Finally: Jason Dufner admires his trophy after the Zurich Classic on Sunday. AP"There's a been a good bit of pressure," Dufner said. "People talking about, 'Why aren't you winning? Why can't you close the deal?' . . . Friends, family, media, even people in my inner circle. And not in a negative way, but when you're leading tournaments going into weekends and you're finishing 24th, there's going to be some questions."Not anymore.Dufner maintained his composure through not one, but two playoff holes against one of the more accomplished veterans in the game Sunday, beating Ernie Els with a birdie on their second extra trip up the par-5 18th to win for the first time in 164 starts on the PGA Tour.The win should also stamp out some of the bad memories haunting Dufner since the Masters, when he shared the lead after two rounds but faded to 24th. The 35-year-old Dufner also held five previous leads through two rounds — two this year, only to fade down the stretch.Entering the fourth round with a two-shot lead in New Orleans, Dufner shot a 2-under 70 at TPC Louisiana, while Els had a 67 to match Dufner for a course-record 19-under 269 total.Both missed birdie putts within 8 feet in the first playoff, so they went back to the 18th tee for the second extra hole, which Dufner won by hitting the green in two strokes and tapping home a short birdie putt after Els' birdie attempt from the fringe missed.Dufner lost playoffs last year to Mark Wilson in the Phoenix Open and Keegan Bradley in the PGA Championship for two of his three career runnerup finishes."It's always really tough playing on Sundays whether you're in the lead or middle of the pack, and today I was fighting, trying to win an event, and I think I showed myself a good bit out there," Dufner said. "It was tough. Ernie made a great run at me and it felt like with five or six holes (to go) we were probably going to be battling for the win."To get the monkey off of my back, it's a great feeling."The 190-cm Els, who goes by the nickname "The Big Easy," hasn't won on the PGA Tour since the 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, a little more than two years ago.He did not have a single bogey in the final round or playoff, and would have won his 19th career PGA Tour title in, of all places, the Big Easy, if he could have made a birdie putt of a little less than 6 feet on the first playoff hole. He pushed it more than 2 feet past the edge of the hole."It was a nice little charge I made and, you know, nice to catch the leader," Els said. "I had a chance to win the tournament with a 6-footer and missed it, but I made quite a few putts on the back nine to keep myself in it. . . . Hit the ball pretty well today — no bogeys on the final round — so there's a lot of positives."On the second playoff hole, Els' tee shot went into a fairway bunker, and his second shot landed 137 yards from the pin. His third shot landed on the fringe, nearly 19 feet from the pin, but he nearly saved birdie from there, his putt missing by 2 inches.Dufner then made his birdie putt from less than 2 feet, and in his typically low-key way, briefly raised both arms to acknowledge the cheering crowd before casually walking off to accept some congratulatory hugs, including from fiancee Amanda Boyd."It's awesome. He's been so close so many times. I don't feel like it's real," Boyd said. "It will be a good wedding."After becoming the seventh player to take his first career PGA Tour triumph in New Orleans since 2002, Dufner called it a "great wedding present for both of us."
Finally: Jason Dufner admires his trophy after the Zurich Classic on Sunday. AP"There's a been a good bit of pressure," Dufner said. "People talking about, 'Why aren't you winning? Why can't you close the deal?' . . . Friends, family, media, even people in my inner circle. And not in a negative way, but when you're leading tournaments going into weekends and you're finishing 24th, there's going to be some questions."Not anymore.Dufner maintained his composure through not one, but two playoff holes against one of the more accomplished veterans in the game Sunday, beating Ernie Els with a birdie on their second extra trip up the par-5 18th to win for the first time in 164 starts on the PGA Tour.The win should also stamp out some of the bad memories haunting Dufner since the Masters, when he shared the lead after two rounds but faded to 24th. The 35-year-old Dufner also held five previous leads through two rounds — two this year, only to fade down the stretch.Entering the fourth round with a two-shot lead in New Orleans, Dufner shot a 2-under 70 at TPC Louisiana, while Els had a 67 to match Dufner for a course-record 19-under 269 total.Both missed birdie putts within 8 feet in the first playoff, so they went back to the 18th tee for the second extra hole, which Dufner won by hitting the green in two strokes and tapping home a short birdie putt after Els' birdie attempt from the fringe missed.Dufner lost playoffs last year to Mark Wilson in the Phoenix Open and Keegan Bradley in the PGA Championship for two of his three career runnerup finishes."It's always really tough playing on Sundays whether you're in the lead or middle of the pack, and today I was fighting, trying to win an event, and I think I showed myself a good bit out there," Dufner said. "It was tough. Ernie made a great run at me and it felt like with five or six holes (to go) we were probably going to be battling for the win."To get the monkey off of my back, it's a great feeling."The 190-cm Els, who goes by the nickname "The Big Easy," hasn't won on the PGA Tour since the 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, a little more than two years ago.He did not have a single bogey in the final round or playoff, and would have won his 19th career PGA Tour title in, of all places, the Big Easy, if he could have made a birdie putt of a little less than 6 feet on the first playoff hole. He pushed it more than 2 feet past the edge of the hole."It was a nice little charge I made and, you know, nice to catch the leader," Els said. "I had a chance to win the tournament with a 6-footer and missed it, but I made quite a few putts on the back nine to keep myself in it. . . . Hit the ball pretty well today — no bogeys on the final round — so there's a lot of positives."On the second playoff hole, Els' tee shot went into a fairway bunker, and his second shot landed 137 yards from the pin. His third shot landed on the fringe, nearly 19 feet from the pin, but he nearly saved birdie from there, his putt missing by 2 inches.Dufner then made his birdie putt from less than 2 feet, and in his typically low-key way, briefly raised both arms to acknowledge the cheering crowd before casually walking off to accept some congratulatory hugs, including from fiancee Amanda Boyd."It's awesome. He's been so close so many times. I don't feel like it's real," Boyd said. "It will be a good wedding."After becoming the seventh player to take his first career PGA Tour triumph in New Orleans since 2002, Dufner called it a "great wedding present for both of us."Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Vettel holds off Hamilton in Spain
BARCELONA, Spain — Formula One leader Sebastian Vettel held off Lewis Hamilton to win the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, edging his closest championship contender to capture his fourth victory in five races this season.The Red Bull driver took the lead for good after the second round of pit stops to beat Hamilton by 0.6 seconds and widen his advantage atop the standings to 41 points over his McLaren rival.The German lost use of his KERS power boost and Hamilton tucked in behind him, but Vettel clung to the lead over the final dozen laps, becoming only the fifth winner in 21 races at the Catalunya Circuit who didn't start on the pole and the first in the last 11 races."A lot of people said today wouldn't be a race—that's why I'm even more happy we made it," Vettel said. "The last 10 laps I felt tires going away and I was praying. On top of that sometimes KERS on, sometimes KERS off. It wasn't an easy race."
Sunday, May 22, 2011
High-flying Reysol holds Grampus
TOYOTA, Aichi Pref. — High-flying Kashiwa Reysol held champions Nagoya Grampus 0-0 away to grab a deserved point in the J. League on Saturday.
Clean sheet: Nagoya's Kensuke Nagai heads the ball during his side's 0-0 draw with Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday. KYODO PHOTOThe result keeps Kashiwa top of the table after seven games and last season's second division champions will feel unfortunate not to be taking all three points back to Chiba Prefecture after another solid performance."It was a difficult game. We kept it tight at the back and were looking to get something on the break, and had we had that little bit of extra quality in the final third we might have got the points," said Kashiwa manager Nelsinho."But we have had a positive start to the season, the stats will tell you that," said the Brazilian.Nagoya was looking to bounce back from its shock 3-1 defeat at promoted Ventforet Kofu last Sunday but it was Kashiwa that had the better of the chances in the first period at Toyota Stadium.Yuki Otsu's close-range effort forced a good save out of Seigo Narazaki and the former Japan goalkeeper was called upon again to make another key block from in-form striker Hideaki Kitajima eight minutes before the interval.Marcus Tulio Tanaka, back from injury, and Naoshi Nakamura both tested Kashiwa keeper Takanori Sugeno but the visitors continued to look dangerous going forward and Brazilian midfielder Leandro Domingues had Narazaki scurrying across his line with a header that dipped just wide."We tried very hard to win the game and I think a draw is not bad because we played against the current leaders of the J. League," said Nagoya boss Dragan Stojkovic. "It was a very hard and competitive game and I am satisfied with our fighting spirit."In other games, Ryoichi Maeda struck twice as Jubilo Iwata piled more misery on Avispa Fukuoka, hammering the Kyushu side 4-1 to keep them rooted to the foot of the table without a point from seven games.Former Japan striker Masashi Oguro also hit a brace as Yokohama F. Marinos thumped Ventforet Kofu 4-0 to go second, while goals from Hiroyuki Takasaki and Mazzolla saw Urawa Reds come from behind to draw 2-2 with Kashima Antlers. Mazzolla was sent off in the dying stages.In Saturday's evening games, Adriano grabbed a late winner with his second of the game as Gamba Osaka edged Albirex Niigata 2-1 at Expo Stadium. Vissel Kobe beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0 at home to move third.
Clean sheet: Nagoya's Kensuke Nagai heads the ball during his side's 0-0 draw with Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday. KYODO PHOTOThe result keeps Kashiwa top of the table after seven games and last season's second division champions will feel unfortunate not to be taking all three points back to Chiba Prefecture after another solid performance."It was a difficult game. We kept it tight at the back and were looking to get something on the break, and had we had that little bit of extra quality in the final third we might have got the points," said Kashiwa manager Nelsinho."But we have had a positive start to the season, the stats will tell you that," said the Brazilian.Nagoya was looking to bounce back from its shock 3-1 defeat at promoted Ventforet Kofu last Sunday but it was Kashiwa that had the better of the chances in the first period at Toyota Stadium.Yuki Otsu's close-range effort forced a good save out of Seigo Narazaki and the former Japan goalkeeper was called upon again to make another key block from in-form striker Hideaki Kitajima eight minutes before the interval.Marcus Tulio Tanaka, back from injury, and Naoshi Nakamura both tested Kashiwa keeper Takanori Sugeno but the visitors continued to look dangerous going forward and Brazilian midfielder Leandro Domingues had Narazaki scurrying across his line with a header that dipped just wide."We tried very hard to win the game and I think a draw is not bad because we played against the current leaders of the J. League," said Nagoya boss Dragan Stojkovic. "It was a very hard and competitive game and I am satisfied with our fighting spirit."In other games, Ryoichi Maeda struck twice as Jubilo Iwata piled more misery on Avispa Fukuoka, hammering the Kyushu side 4-1 to keep them rooted to the foot of the table without a point from seven games.Former Japan striker Masashi Oguro also hit a brace as Yokohama F. Marinos thumped Ventforet Kofu 4-0 to go second, while goals from Hiroyuki Takasaki and Mazzolla saw Urawa Reds come from behind to draw 2-2 with Kashima Antlers. Mazzolla was sent off in the dying stages.In Saturday's evening games, Adriano grabbed a late winner with his second of the game as Gamba Osaka edged Albirex Niigata 2-1 at Expo Stadium. Vissel Kobe beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0 at home to move third.Saturday, April 23, 2011
Orix right-hander Park holds Lions in check
OSAKA — Park Chan Ho gave a vintage performance over seven shutout innings on Friday, leading the way in the Orix Buffaloes' 2-0 win over the Seibu Lions.
Quality outing: Buffaloes starter Park Chan Ho keeps the Lions off the scoreboard for seven innings on Friday as Orix defeated Seibu 2-0. KYODO PHOTO
The 37-year-old South Korean, who had stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers in his heyday from 1994-2001 and last played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2010, allowed three hits, struck out six and walked four at Kyocera Dome.
The veteran right-hander was instrumental in helping Orix snap a three-game losing streak.
"This was a very significant game for us. One of our catchers got hurt (in the third inning). I have to take my hat off to the two catchers that helped me pitch a great game tonight," Park said.
Park yielded three runs in 6 innings in a 3-2 loss to the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles in his first start in Japan on April 15, but prevailed this time in another nail biter.
Mamoru Kishida worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save of the season.
Koji Yamasaki had a sac fly in the second inning and Hirotoshi Kitagawa chipped in with an RBI single in the third.
Kazuhisa Makita (0-1) took the loss for Seibu, which has lost five straight.
Fighters 4, Eagles 3
At Hotto Motto Field, Yang Dai-kang hit a tiebreaking RBI single to shallow left field in the top of the ninth and Hokkaido Nippon Ham held off Tohoku Rakuten to pick up its fifth win in a row.
Kensuke Tanaka tied the game with his two-out, RBI single, setting the stage for Yang's heroics with runners on first and second. Bobby Keppel (1-0) got the win and Ryan Speier (0-1) was tagged for the loss for the Eagles.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
Tigers 4, BayStars 3
At Koshien Stadium, Takahiro Arai came to the rescue with a walk-off RBI double with two outs in the ninth inning as Hanshin avoided consecutive defeats with a win over Yokohama.
Hanshin closer Kyuji Fujikawa (1-0) fanned three in the ninth for the win. Matt Murton had an RBI double in the second and a game-tying solo homer in the seventh against reliever Clayton Hamilton.
Shigeru Kaga (1-1) took the loss for the BayStars, who have lost five in a row.
Yokohama slugger Terrmel Sledge hit his CL-leading sixth homer.
Swallows 5, Carp 0
At Mazda Stadium, Hitoshi Yamamoto went seven scoreless innings as Tokyo Yakult notched its third straight shutout, beating Hiroshima for its fifth consecutive victory.
Yamamoto (1-0), making his first start of the season, gave up two singles, struck out five with two free passes on the night en route to his first career victory.
Quality outing: Buffaloes starter Park Chan Ho keeps the Lions off the scoreboard for seven innings on Friday as Orix defeated Seibu 2-0. KYODO PHOTO
The 37-year-old South Korean, who had stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers in his heyday from 1994-2001 and last played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2010, allowed three hits, struck out six and walked four at Kyocera Dome.
The veteran right-hander was instrumental in helping Orix snap a three-game losing streak.
"This was a very significant game for us. One of our catchers got hurt (in the third inning). I have to take my hat off to the two catchers that helped me pitch a great game tonight," Park said.
Park yielded three runs in 6 innings in a 3-2 loss to the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles in his first start in Japan on April 15, but prevailed this time in another nail biter.
Mamoru Kishida worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save of the season.
Koji Yamasaki had a sac fly in the second inning and Hirotoshi Kitagawa chipped in with an RBI single in the third.
Kazuhisa Makita (0-1) took the loss for Seibu, which has lost five straight.
Fighters 4, Eagles 3
At Hotto Motto Field, Yang Dai-kang hit a tiebreaking RBI single to shallow left field in the top of the ninth and Hokkaido Nippon Ham held off Tohoku Rakuten to pick up its fifth win in a row.
Kensuke Tanaka tied the game with his two-out, RBI single, setting the stage for Yang's heroics with runners on first and second. Bobby Keppel (1-0) got the win and Ryan Speier (0-1) was tagged for the loss for the Eagles.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
Tigers 4, BayStars 3
At Koshien Stadium, Takahiro Arai came to the rescue with a walk-off RBI double with two outs in the ninth inning as Hanshin avoided consecutive defeats with a win over Yokohama.
Hanshin closer Kyuji Fujikawa (1-0) fanned three in the ninth for the win. Matt Murton had an RBI double in the second and a game-tying solo homer in the seventh against reliever Clayton Hamilton.
Shigeru Kaga (1-1) took the loss for the BayStars, who have lost five in a row.
Yokohama slugger Terrmel Sledge hit his CL-leading sixth homer.
Swallows 5, Carp 0
At Mazda Stadium, Hitoshi Yamamoto went seven scoreless innings as Tokyo Yakult notched its third straight shutout, beating Hiroshima for its fifth consecutive victory.
Yamamoto (1-0), making his first start of the season, gave up two singles, struck out five with two free passes on the night en route to his first career victory.
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