USA Claims Collegiate Golf Championship

USA Claims Collegiate Golf Championship

7/15/2006

TOCHIGI PREFECTURE, Japan — The United States won 17 of 24 final-round points to defeat Japan 37-23 at the 31st annual Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship at Sun Hills Country Club in Japan’s Tochigi prefecture. The victory was the 11th straight for the United States and its largest since 2001. The Americans now lead the all-time series, 24-7.

The U.S. women’s team was coached by Vanderbilt’s Martha Richards Freitag.

The two sides halved the first match and split the second and third to keep the U.S. lead at four, 23-19. Irene Cho and Tomoko Senshu both fired 72 to start the round while Tiffany Joh earned a two-stroke victory for the USA and Japan’s Miki Saiki’s triumphed 69-72 against Jane Park.

America responded by winning seven-straight matches to clinch the championship. Women’s MVP Amanda Blumenherst – who was the only player in the competition to claim all three of her matches – started the run with a 68-71 victory. Team USA would then win the first six men’s matches. Dustin Johnson claimed a seven-stroke victory followed by a five-shot win by Alex Coe. Scott Brown clinched the matches by making birdie on four of the final five holes – including the last three – for an apparent come-from-behind victory. After the round, however, it was determined that his opponent signed an incorrect scorecard and Brown was declared winner by disqualification. Erik Flores continued the streak with a three-shot victory and was followed by wins by Jake Ellison and Colin Clark.

Japan won the final two matches. Toro Nakajima downed Andrew Dresser, 70-71, and men’s MVP Yuta Ikeda beat Dillon Dougherty.

31st Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship
Final Round Results
Sunhills Country Club
United States 37
Japan 23

Irene Cho USA halved Tomoko Yokoyama, Japan USA, 21-17
Tiffany Joh, USA def. Chika Yamamoto, Japan, 75-77 USA, 23-17
Miki Saiki, Japan def. Jane Park, USA, 69-72 USA, 23-19
Amanda Blumenherst, USA def. Erina Hara, Japan, 68-71 USA, 25-19
Dustin Johnson, USA def. Daisuke Yasumoto, Japan, 73-80 USA, 27-19
Alex Coe, USA def. Masahiko Sanada, Japan, 70-75 USA, 29-19
Scott Brown, USA def. Yohei Nakamichi, Japan, DQ USA, 31-19
Erik Flores, USA def. Ayumi Kawamitsu, Japan, 72-75 USA, 33-19
Jake Ellison, USA def. Yuto Watanabe, Japan, 71-76 USA, 35-19
Colin Clark, USA def. Yuki Ito, Japan, 73-75 USA, 37-19
Toru Nakajima, Japan def. Andrew Dresser, USA, 70-71 USA, 37-21
Yuta Ikeda, Japan def. Dillon Dougherty, USA, 69-78 USA, 37-23