MINOZA FINISHED 4TH IN JAPAN
MASTERS TOURNAMENT
(Reprinted with permission from Philippine
Star)
TOKYO, November 16, 1998 - The Philippine Star reports that Philippines' Frankie Miñoza closed with an error-filled two-over-par 74 and finished fourth behind winner Lee Westwood of England in the Taiheiyo Masters golf tournament here Sunday.
With his earlier rounds of 68-70-67, Miñoza, the third round leader, tallied 279 over the par-72, 7,072-yard Taiheiyo Club's Cotomba course at the foot of Mt. Fuji and finished four shots behind eventual champion Westwood.
Westwood overcame an early bogey trouble to win the title for the third straight time.
The 25-year-old Englishman compiled a three-under-par 69 to take the title after trailing Miñoza by one shot entering the final round.
Westwood slipped down the leaderboard when he bogeyed the first two holes, but recovered to shoot six birdies against one more bogey to finish 13-under-par on 275.
The victory showed that Westwood had put behind him the disappointment of losing his chance of deposing Colin Montgomerie as European number one in the final round of the Volvo Masters two weeks ago.
Westwood held off a late charge from Japan's Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki to pick the winner's check of 27 million yen ($331,000).
Ozaki, puffing away at cicgarettes as he walked the fairways, shot a five-under-par 67 to finish on 277.
Eduardo Herrera of Colombia was third after a 71 for 278.
Mark O'Meara, who won the Maters and British Open this year, was less than impressive as he shot a one-over-par 73 for a level par 288 and a share of 38th place.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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