Kuramoto Enjoys a Strong Finish : But He’ll Stay on the Japanese Tour--He Nearly Owns It

Despite a surprisingly good showing in the Los Angeles Open, Masahiro Kuramoto, a top professional in Japan, is not interested in trying to qualify for the PGA Tour.

Why should he? The stocky 30-year-old golfer from Tokyo earned more than 68 million--yen that is--last year on the Japan Tour. That is the equivalent of $340,000 American. Only 10 golfers on the U.S. tour earned more in purses.

Kuramoto, playing in the L.A. Open for the third time, shot a final-round 69 Sunday to finish at 281, 11 shots behind the amazing Doug Tewell, but tied for 10th. Last year he failed to make the cut.

As the winner twice in a row of the Bridgestone tournament held each October, Kuramoto automatically qualified for this tournament. Bridgestone, one of the major sponsors of the L.A. tournament, inaugurated a trans-Pacific golf exchange. For the last 11 years the winner of the Bridgestone and top finishers have been invited to this event. And the L.A. Open winner is invited to the Bridgestone. Only Lanny Wadkins, after winning at Riviera Country Club in 1979, has been able to win the Bridgestone.

A Bridgestone winner has never won here the next year, but Kuramoto made a nice run. He also impressed his Sunday playing partners, Corey Pavin and Johnny Miller.

“He’s a good golfer,” Pavin said. “He impressed me. I think he would do all right on our tour.”

Miller was also impressed with Kuramoto, a 5-5, 150-pounder, who consistently outdrove both Miller and Pavin. By finishing tied for 10th, he earned $10,800. In winning the Bridgestone, he earned $60,000.

“I am not interested in trying to join the American tour,” Kuramoto said. (Although he speaks some English, he needed some interpreting help from Terry Bushman of Bridgestone). “Professional golf is growing as fast in Japan as it is here. There are more than 40 tournaments. Most weekends during the season there are two tournaments to choose from.

“Our season begins the third week of March and ends the second week in December. Last year I was second in money won behind Tommy Nakajima, who is well known in this country.

“I really like Riviera. But it is longer and tougher than our courses. We keep ours well-manicured, but here (Riviera) it is so beautiful. I really enjoy playing here.

“I’m a little surprised I did so well here. When I played in the Hawaii Open last week, it was the first competition in seven weeks. Here, my concentration was better and my short game improved.”

In the Bridgestone last October, Kuramoto trailed Isao Aoki by three strokes with three holes to play. Kuramoto birdied all three and won the tournament when Aoki bogeyed the last hole. Aoki is undoubtedly the best known of the Japanese players in this country. He gained fame for battling Jack Nicklaus in the final round of the U. S. Open in 1980. In 1983, he knocked in an approach shot on the final hole to win at Hawaii.

Kuramoto, who said he will return to Tokyo right away to prepare for the start of his season, has played in only a few U.S. tournaments. Three years ago he was sixth at Doral.

But, for the most part he intends to stay in Japan and reap the money.

“I will welcome Doug Tewell to the Bridgestone in October,” he said. “I only hope he cools off by then.”

For years USC alumni were among the top golfers on the PGA Tour. Until Eddie Merrins, the pro at Bel-Air Country Club began developing golfers at UCLA, there was no rivalry in the sport between the schools.

It has become quite evident that the former Bruins, while still lacking in numbers, have the quality to challenge the Trojans.

There were 12 entrants in the L.A. Open who attended either of two universities, eight from USC.

But, it was Bruins’ Jay Delsing and Corey Pavin, who stole the show from the five Trojans who made the cut. Delsing, a second-year pro from St. Louis whose father is a former major league baseball player, had his best finish ever. He slipped to a 74 Friday, but still finished at 279, tied for fifth.

Delsing, who tied for seventh in the B.C. Open last year, earned $46,480 as a rookie. Because Seve Ballesteros was disqualified from the tour, the 6-foot-5 1/2 Delsing finished in 125th place, last spot on the tour. For this one, he picked up $19,800 and is off to a solid start in his second year. Pavin, the winner last week at Hawaii, missed a short putt on the final hole Sunday to finish at 280, a shot behind Delsing.

There were five former Trojans who made the cut. Best of the group was Tony Sills. Sills shot a one-under-par 70 on the final round and finished at 283. Other former Trojans’ scores: Craig Stadler, 288; Scott Simpson, 287; Mark Pfeil, 285, and Dave Stockton, 288. Steve Pate, a third ex-Bruin, was at 289.

Although both Trojans and Bruins deny that a rivalry is developing, Delsing’s reaction when he heard that he and Pavin beat out the Trojans, belied it.

“That’s great,” he said enthusiastically.

Ben Crenshaw, who has not played well since winning the Masters in 1984, will go into the hospital Tuesday for another checkup.

It was discovered last December that Crenshaw, who had lost considerable weight and strength, had been suffering for more than a year with a glandular problem.

He has been struggling, trying for a comeback. When he shot a 68 in the third round of the L.A. Open, he was only five shots behind leader Doug Tewell going into Sunday. He birdied the first hole, then faltered and shot a 74. At that, the $2,377.50 he earned for his 286 was more than he has been earning. Often he has failed to even make the cut.

“It is a tough haul,” he said. “I have regained much of the weight, but I still lack strength. There is also a mental problem with my putting. I used to be one of the best. Now I must regain my confidence. But first I will go for a checkup. Actually, I feel pretty good. I’ll just have to wait and see.”