Shark Claims Taiheiyo Masters

Greg Norman eagled the par-5 final hole and beat Japan's Yoshinori Mizumaki by one shot in the Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters in Gotemba, Japan. Norman fired a final-round 68, finished at 16-under-par 272, and earned $252,000.

The Taiheiyo Masters has been a major event on the Japan golf tour for many years. Since 1977 the annual tournament has been hosted at the Taiheiyo Golf Club in Shizuoka. Traditionally the tournament has attracted a strong international field who make the journey to Japan.

Norman is no stranger to Japan. He has been a regular competitor in the Chunichi Crowns tournament, which he won in 1989. He also took the Kuzuha International crown in 1977, in just his second year as a professional.

This week's tournament turned into a close encounter between Norman, Mizumaki, Masashi Ozaki, Barry Lane and David Frost. As always, there was much pride at stake in the Taiheiyo Masters, and the Japanese contingent was not about to concede.

At the halfway point Mizumaki and Ozaki were tied on 135. Norman and fellow Australian Ian Baker-Finch shared second place two shots back. At the completion of the third round, Ozaki claimed a one-shot lead. Mizumaki was in second, followed closely by Norman.