Ishikawa wins on return to Japan Golf Tour

Failing to advance beyond the first week of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs has had a silver lining for Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, who won his first ANA Open on the Japan Golf Tour in Sapporo on Sunday.

Ishikawa has been plying his trade in America on a full-time basis for the past few seasons and secured his card for next season by making the Playoffs.

Ryo Ishikawa (Credit: www.golffile.ie)

Taking the opportunity to return home for the first time this year to play a number of events, the 24-year old claimed his 12th Japan Tour victory win a two-shot win over Yusaku Miyazoto.

Tied for the overnight lead with Koumei Oda, the player known as ‘the Bashful Prince’ at home when he burst on the scene as a teenager shot a final round three-under 69 to finish at 16-under 272.

2011 ANA Open winner Kurt Barnes finished as the leading Australian in a tie for 23rd position, with Brendan Jones at 36th and Won Joon Lee further back in a tie for 50th.

Ishikawa will look to extend his career resume of Japan Golf Tour wins at this week’s Asia-Pacific Golf Championship Diamond Cup Golf 2015, to be staged at the Otone Country Club, north of Tokyo.