Americans Claim USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship
Team USA wins 34-26
SANO, Japan ? The United States won four of the first five matches and six overall in Friday?s final round to claim the USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship, 34-26, at Verde Sano Country Club in Sano, Japan. The win was the eighth straight for the Americans. Team USA now leads the overall series, 21-7.
The U.S got off to a quick start for the third-consecutive day, ensuring at least a tie after the first five matches. Jessica Reese halved the first match of the round with Tomoko Kanai, 79-79. Team USA then reeled off four-straight wins. Charlotte Mayorkas - the only player to win all three of her matches during the competition - and Liz Janangelo both claimed their matches by one stroke over Mao Kouyama and Noriko Yasuda, respectively. Leigh Anne Hardin fired the only par score for the women in the third round when she dispatched Hitomi Matsumura, 72-81. J.J. Jakovac won the first men?s match, 72-75, over Yuuki Sato, to push the U.S. lead to 30-16.
Japan would respond with three-straight victories to pull within eight. Kunihiro Kamii, Yakamasa Yamamoto and Haruo Fujishima all fired rounds in the 60s to win their matches.
Ryan Quinn would seal the championship for Team USA when he downed Satoshi Sakamoto, 69-71. Jack Ferguson would follow with a 69-72 victory against Takfumi Kawane. Japan won the final two matches when Toyokazu Fujishima and Shintaro Kai defeated Matt Hendrix and Steve Conway, respectively.
Kai was named men?s MVP while Hardin claimed MVP honors for the women. Hardin was also named Mrs. Ambassador by the Japanese team for her sportsmanship during the course of the competition.Third Round Results
United States 34, Japan 26
Jessica Reese, USA halves Tomoko Kanai, Japan, 79-79
Charlotte Mayorkas, USA defeats Mao Kouyama, Japan, 74-75
Liz Janangelo, USA defeats Noriko Yasuda, Japan, 78-79
Leigh Anne Hardin, USA defeats Hitomi Matsumura, Japan, 72-81
J.J. Jakovac, USA defeats Yuuki Sato, 72-75
Kunihiro Kamii, Japan defeats Tom Johnson, USA, 68-74
Takamsa Yamamoto, Japan defeats Jay Mundy, USA, 69-70
Haruo Fujishima, Japan defeats Andrew Dahl, USA, 69-71
Ryan Quinn, USA defeats Satoshi Sakamoto, Japan, 69-71
Jack Ferguson, USA defeats Takafumi Kawane, Japan, 69-72
Toyokazu Fujishima, Japan defeats Matt Hendrix, USA, 69-73
Shintaro Kai, Japan defeats Steve Conway, USA, 70-71