Ulsterman Darren Clarke topped off an erratic final round with three birdies in the last four holes to win the Chunichi Crowns tournament in Togo by four shots yesterday.
The world number 10 fired seven birdies against four bogeys for a third successive 67 to seal his first win in Japan with a 13-under-par total of 267 and a first prize of $180,000.
"I had a few chances before and I finished runner-up twice but it's nice to come along to have my first tournament win," said 32-year-old Clarke. "I hope there will be many more to come."
Japanese duo Keiichiro Fukabori and Shinichi Yokota shared second place on 271 with American Dean Wilson and another home player, Tsukasa Watanabe, in joint-fourth spot a shot further back.
Going out with a one-stroke overnight lead on the 6,511yard Nagoya Golf Club Wago course, Clarke was two strokes clear at the turn but wavered on the back nine.
He bogeyed the 11th and 13th holes and was briefly tied with Wilson, who was playing in the same group.
Clarke said: "I let a few chances slip away and I made a couple of mistakes but I had a good drive on the 14th and it got me back into the game."
The Irishman was the first European to win the Chunichi title in 14 years since Spain's Seve Ballesteros.
Clarke's previous best result in Japan had been a runner-up finish at the 1998 Dunlop Phoenix and a loss in a three-way play-off at the 1999 Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters.
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