Hikage Wins by 3 Shots in Japan’s Ladies Golf

Japan’s Atsuko Hikage, playing in wind and rain, fired a 71 Sunday for a three-round total of 211 and won the $120,000 Yakult Ladies Golf Tournament by three strokes on the hilly 6,122-yard, par-72 Fukuoka International Country Club course.

Hikage earned $20,000 for her first victory of the season and the fourth in her pro career.

Compatriot Tatsuko Osako shot the day’s best score of 70 for 214 and finished second. She received $10,000.

Taiwan’s top woman pro, Tu Ai-yu, had a 71 for 215 and finished third, followed by her countrywoman, Tsai Li-hsiang, and Japan’s Yoshiko Masuda at 218. Tsai and Masuda each had a 72 Sunday.