Eagle on Final Hole Gives Nakamura Title

Tadao Nakamura of Japan made a 10-foot eagle putt on the final hole Sunday and gained the first title of his 13-year pro career with a one-stroke victory in the $267,000 NST Niigata Open.

Nakamura’s even-par-71 in the final round gave him a total of 8-under-par 276 on the Forest Golf Club’s 7,025-yard, Tsukioka course. Nakamura, 40, earned $48,000.

David Ishii of Hawaii, the winner of last year’s tournament, Australia’s Brian Jones, Taiwan’s Hsieh Chin-sheng and Japan’s Kazuo Yoshikawa tied for second at 277. Ishii and Jones shot 69 Sunday, Yoshikawa had a 68 and Hsieh a 70. Each won $17,070.

Last week, Ishii won the Japan PGA Championship, and Jones shared second place.