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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, July 27, 2009

Fujikawa finishes in tie for 15th


Advertiser Staff and News Services

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Michelle Wie shot her third consecutive 2-under-par 70 to finish in tie for 23rd at the Evian Masters in France.

LAURENT CIPRIANI | Associated Press Fujikawa

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Tadd Fujikawa

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Ai Miyazato, center, is flanked by Mika Miyazato and fellow Japan pro Erina Hara after winning the Evian Masters in France.

LAURENT CIPRIANI | Associated Press

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Hawai'i's Tadd Fujikawa faltered on the back nine and finished with an even-par 71 yesterday to tie for 15th place, seven strokes behind winner Rich Barcelo in the Nationwide Tour's Cox Classic at Omaha, Neb.

Fujikawa, an 18-year-old Moanalua High alum, entered the day tied for sixth place but just two shots back. He kept pace with the leaders until a double-bogey at the par-3 No. 12. He finished at 13-under 271 and won $11,963.

Fujikawa had three birdies and a bogey to make the turn at 2-under 33. But the double bogey on No. 12 dropped him back to even par. He birdied the par-4 No. 13, bogeyed the par-4 No. 14, then parred the final four holes — barely missing a birdie on No. 18 when his putt lipped out of the cup.

Kamehameha Schools alum Keoke Cotner shot 74—279, tying for 57th and winning $2,266.

Barcelo shot a 6-under 65 for a one-stroke victory at 20-under 264. He won $130,500.

EVIAN MASTERS

MIYAZATO WINS FIRST

Ai Miyazato of Japan won the Evian Masters with a birdie on the first playoff hole at Evian-Les-Baines, France, beating Sophie Gustafson of Sweden to clinch her first victory on the LPGA Tour.

Miyazato steadied herself and sank a putt from about 6 feet after Gustafson had missed her birdie putt from the edge of the green. Miyazato shot a 3-under 69 and Gustafson had a 70 as both finished at 14-under 274.

"I had a tough time these last few years," Miyazato said, referring to her long wait for an LPGA title. "It is obviously a relief, but I feel a sense of accomplishment at achieving this great win."

Honolulu's Michelle Wie tied for 23rd at 5 under, but failed to collect any points in her bid for a place on the United States team for next month's Solheim Cup match against Europe.

Wie shot her third consecutive 70 to finish at 283 and earn $34,350. She eagled the par-5 No. 9 to make the turn at 2 under. But bogeys on Nos. 10, 12 and 14 put her at 1 over before she closed with birdies on Nos. 15, 16 and 18.

Wie gets another chance at this week's British Open, where points for the Solheim Cup count double.

"I think for next week, my tee shots feel good, I've got to get that working," Wie said. "Get that groove back."

SENIOR BRITISH OPEN

ROBERTS TAKES PLAYOFF

Loren Roberts won his second Senior British Open title yesterday, beating Mark McNulty on the third hole of a sudden death playoff at Sunningdale, England.

Fred Funk also took part in the playoff, but was eliminated on the first extra hole when he made par as Roberts and McNulty birdied. The remaining pair parred the second playoff hole before Roberts clinched victory with another par at the next hole.

Greg Norman, the third-round leader, missed birdie chances at the first three holes and double-bogeyed the 17th to finish in a tie for sixth place, three strokes behind the leaders.

CANADIAN OPEN

RAIN WON'T GO AWAY

Jason Dufner played six holes in 1 under to top the Canadian Open leaderboard before play was washed out because of the latest round of heavy rain and lightning yesterday, forcing the tournament to at least a fifth day in Oakville, Ontario.

Dufner, the second-round leader after rounds of 68 and 63 on the saturated Glen Abbey course, had a one-stroke lead over Anthony Kim and Jerry Kelly. Kim was 4 under after nine holes in the third round, and Kelly was 1 under through six.

Dean Wilson is even par for his round through 12 and tied for 37th at 6 under, while playing partner and fellow Hawai'i pro Parker McLachlin is 2 over and tied for 53rd at 4 under overall.

SAS MASTERS

GONZALEZ TRIUMPHS

Ricardo Gonzalez won the European Tour's SAS Masters by two strokes, making birdies on five of the final six holes for a 4-under 69 at Loddekopinge, Sweden. The 39-year-old Argentine finished at 10-under 282.

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