Massy Kuramoto tops Champions Tour Q-School

Japan's Massy Kuramoto shot a 2-under 70 in windy conditions Monday to win the Champions Tour National Qualifying Tournament at the PGA of Southern California Golf Club.

The 50-year-old Kuramoto, a 30-time winner on the Japanese Tour, finished the 108-hole event at 3-under 429 and earned $45,000. He was the medalist at the PGA Tour's Q-school in 1992 and played on tour in 1993.

"It was a long six days and I am very tired," Kuramoto said. "I wanted to keep the ball low today and just play one shot at a time. I just tried to make par on every hole today but the wind was very difficult. It feels good to finish. I am very happy."

Kuramoto opened the final round tied for the lead with Masingill at 1 under, and quickly moved into the lead with an eagle at the fourth hole and a birdie at No. 5. He stayed out of trouble the rest of the way with winds gusting to 25 mph and punctuated his win with a birdie at the final hole.

The top seven finishers earned tour cards for 2006.

Kirk Hanefeld, from Acton, Mass., closed with a 70 and finished two strokes behind Kuramoto at 1 under, and Japan's Joe Ozaki (72) was third at 1 over. PGA Tour veteran Keith Fergus, who played in 23 Champions events this season and finished 37th on the money list, closed with a 70 and finished tied for fourth with England's Bill Longmuir (74) and Scott Masingill, of Payette, Ind., who had a 75. Rick Karbowski, of Worcester, Mass., had a 71 and finished seventh at 3 over.

Former major league star Rick Rhoden was one of eight players to earn conditional status for 2006, along with Jack Ferenz, of Vero Beach, Fla., Chris Starkjohann, of Cardiff By The Sea, Calif., Danny Edwards, of Scottsdale, Ariz., Japan's Katsuyoshi Tomori, Mike San Filippo, of Hobe Sound, Fla., and Argentina's Eduardo Romero.

November 22, 2005

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