Wilson wins Japan PGA Championship
Advertiser Staff and News Services
MAEBARA, Japan — Dean Wilson joined a select group yesterday in winning his first major on the Japan Tour.
Associated Press
Wilson, a former Kane'ohe resident, won the $925,000 Japan PGA Championship by four strokes despite closing with a 3-over-par 74. He became just the sixth non-Japanese to win the tournament and earned a five-year exemption in Japan.
A nice trophy and a $183,000 check were enough to coax a smile from Castle graduate Dean Wilson.
The exemption, Wilson told Kyodo News Service, will enable him to take another shot at the PGA Tour, probably later this year.
Wilson, a Castle High School graduate now living in Orem, Utah, finished at 3-under 281 for his first victory this season and second ever in Japan. He earned $183,000 and vaulted to No. 3 on the earnings list.
Wilson, who began the final round with an eight-shot lead, bogeyed Nos. 10, 13 and 18, but still was the only golfer to finish the tournament under par.
Hideki Kase of Japan shot yesterday's best score of 67 and finished second at 285 at Queen's Hill Golf Club. Hsieh Chin-sheng of Taiwan finished third with a 71 for a 287.
