Ishikawa wins Mizuno to qualify for British Open
June 28, 2009
TOKYO (AP)—Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa closed with a 1-over 73 on Sunday towin the Mizuno Open on the Japan Golf Tour and qualify for the British Open nextmonth.
It was the first victory this year for the 17-year-old Ishikawa, and it cameat the right time. The top four players not already exempt for the British Openearned a spot in the field July 16-19 at Turnberry.
“I’m thrilled to have qualified for the British Open,” he said. “Therewere some tense moments today but it all worked out in the end.”
He took a quintuple-bogey 9 on the 12th hole, then rebounded with a chip-infor eagle on the 16th. He closed out his round with a birdie to finish at13-under 275, three shots ahead of David Smail of New Zealand.
Ishikawa won for the third time in his career, and the second time as a pro.He became the youngest winner of a sanctioned tour when he won the MunsingwearOpen KSB Cup at 15 two years ago.
Ishikawa missed the cut this year at the Masters, where he was given aspecial invitation. He also has received an invitation to the PGA Championshipin August at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota.
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