RELATED STORIES Rd 1: Hur and Han fire 69s to lie 4th in Japan Rd 1: Jeev lying fifth at European Open Rd 2: Hur and Zhang in UBS Japan top ten Rd 2: Kingston tenth as Asian stars miss cut Rd 3: Steady Hur tied for sixth at UBS Japan Rd 3: Jeev lying seventh at European Open Rd 4: Hoshino wins UBS as Hur ties for 9th Rd 4: Jeev claims fourth 2008 European top ten European Open Preview AT&T National Preview Rookie Noh get UBS Japan Tour Championship invite In-form Prayad going for Japan hat-trick ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Bae clinches home win Tanihara takes Panasonic title Su Dong's lead cut to two Hole-in-One Jeev shares the lead Korea, Philippines, Italy for World Cup Lu wins record 4th Taiwan Masters Aussie PGA rethinks 'One Asia' GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Fred Couples to enlist some unusual help Paula Creamer seeking another home town win Jay Haas on brink of another senior money title Justin Leonard looking to break Texas Open record Father & Son event sign up with Sky Sports

Hoshino wins UBS Japan Tour Championship as Hur ties for 9th

Korea’s Hur Suk-ho birdied the final 18th hole to fnish in a tie for ninth place in the final round at the UBS Japan Golf Tour Championship, won by Japan's Hidemasa Hoshino, on Sunday.

Hur, who claimed one win in Japan this year, tackled the tricky conditions at the challenging Shishido Hills Country Club for a two-over-par 73.

Hur produced a four-day total of 282 and was five strokes ahead of Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng who stumbled to a 76 to finish in joint 18th place.

China’s Zhang Lian-wei recorded a 73 for a 289 total to claim joint 26th spot while Asian Tour’s Noh Seung-yul posted a 74 and ended his Japan campaign in a tie for 29th position. American Han Lee endured a slow finish after a 77 and was among those who finished in joint 41st place.

Hur was making his move at the treacherous West Course when he was two under after four holes before losing his rhythm after a double bogey at the sixth hole. Despite a 73, Hur was satisfied to walk away in the top-10.

“I made a double at the sixth and I lost my focus. Coming off under par after four days is a good effort especially under these tough conditions,” said Hur.

Thailand’s Prayad battled to a 76 after a nagging back injury affected his final day charge.

“I struggled from tee to green. The pain was much worse today. I only reached three fairways today and my putts were not going in.

“I hope to head back straight to Thailand and see my physiotherapist to make sure that I get my back problem solved as soon as possible before I head for the British Open," said Prayad, who withdrew after nine holes in the second round at the US Masters due to a similar injury.

Zhang walked away with a 73 but he was pleased to have rubbed shoulders with 2007 champion Shingo Katayama and Katsumasa Miyamoto.

“It was a steady round but yet again, one hole destroyed it. I misjudged the distance and hit it over the green on the par three 13th hole. I four putted and ended with a double bogey. Same thing yesterday with one hole proving very costly.

“But I learnt a lot from some of the top Japanese players this week as I had to opportunity to play with Shingo and Katsumasa earlier on. They are both true gentlemen and it was a good experience for me this week,” said Zhang.

Korea’s Noh enjoyed his first ever outing in Japan as he finished in a tie for 29th position.

“It’s been a great experience for me in my first event in Japan. The greens are soft and fast and the course is really long. It was a tough week but fun. I hope to come back here next year,” said Noh.

Japan's Hidemasa Hoshino took the title after a 70 for a winning total of 272 and earned a spot to the US$8 million Bridgestone Invitational which is part of The World Golf Championship tournament.

July 6, 2008