TOPY CUP SPECIAL / TFU's Fujimoto aims for 3-peat / Looks to help Sendai powerhouse reclaim men's team title

The Yomiuri Shimbun

TANAGURA, Fukushima--Last year, Tohoku Fukushi star Yoshinori Fujimoto became the first player to capture back-to-back Topy Cup individual titles. His effort, however, wasn't enough for the Sendai-based powerhouse to take a record fifth straight team title, as the Washington Huskies walked away with that honor.

But fresh from a runnerup finish in the Japan Collegiate Championships late last month, Fujimoto is determined to lead Tohoku Fukushi to an eighth Topy Cup title with a three-peat in the individual championship when the Topy Cup U.S.-Japan Intercollegiate Golf Championship tees off Thursday at the Tanagura Country Club.

"I would be lying if I said I'm not thinking about winning a third straight [individual] title at all," said the Tohoku Fukushi junior. "But the first thing is to help my teammates capture the team title. After that, I'll be glad if I'm able to win the individual title for myself."

After scoring a two-stroke victory over Richard Lee of the Huskies last year, Fujimoto gained confidence in his game, winning the low amateur titles in the Panasonic Open and the Japan Open on the Japan pro tour.

Fujimoto added running to his training regime to build up his stamina and has improved the range of motion in his shoulders by working to increase flexibility.

"Thanks to this training, I get more distance on my drives, but my swing is nice and easily," Fujimoto said.

"Golf is the sport in which you have to fight yourself. If you can overcome yourself, then you will get some results, I believe," he said.

The Tohoku Fukushi squad also includes sophomore Shinji Tomimura, who finished seventh in the Japan Collegiate Golf Championships, and in-form rookie Hideki Matsuyama, who placed third at the Kanto Collegiate Golf Championships and fourth in the Japan Collegiate tournament.

Tohoku Fukushi has produced a number of pros, including Hidemasa Hoshino, Hideto Tanihara, Kiyoshi Miyazato, Hiroshi Iwata and Yuta Ikeda. Ikeda won four times on the Japan GTO Tour last season to finish runnerup behind teen sensation Ryo Ishikawa in the money rankings.

Archrival and Tokyo powerhouse Nihon University, looking for its first Topy Cup title since 1996, has strengthened its squad this season and won the Kanto University Spring League and the National Collegiate League.

Japan Amateur champion Hiroki Abe and 2009 Japan Collegiate champion Keisuke Otawa, combined with Hokkaido Amateur champion Taiki Honma, hope to help Nichidai revisit its glory days, when it won six titles over seven years.

Chuo Gakuin, third in National College League, could challenge the two powerhouses if junior star Masahiro Sakurai, third in 2009 Topy Cup individual category, and rising freshman Yuta Watanabe rise to their potential.

The men's team title in the three-day tournament will be contested by six Japanese and four U.S. universities.

Among the U.S. squads, 2009 NCAA champion Texas A&M and Arizona State, which finished eighth in the 2010 NCAA Championship, appear set to bring the Topy Cup team title back over the Pacific for the second straight year.

Seniors Conrad Shindler and John Hurley, who were among the NCAA Championship members last year, along with 2008 All-American Nacho Elvira and sophomore Cameron Peck, who was named the 2008 National Junior Player of the Year, will power Texas A&M.

Arizona State senior Scott Pinckney, who won the Trans-Mississippi Championship in July, senior Philip Francis, who finished third in the 2008 NCAA Central Regional, and sophomore Jin Song, who captured the 2008 Arizona Amateur Championship, will join forces as the Sun Devils aim for the school's first Topy Cup title since 1989, when Phil Mickelson led the team to its first one.

Cal State Fresno, featuring 2009 U.S. Amateur semifinalist Bhavik Patel, and Arizona, powered by senior Tarquin MacManus, who finished in a tie for fifth at the 2010 NCAA Southwest Regional, will try to be in title contention.

In the individual category, look for Fujimoto figures to be challenged by Meiji sophomore Katsuyuki Sakurai. Sakurai went into the final day of the Japan Collegiate Championship five shots behind overnight leader Fujimoto, but edged him by one stroke to win the prestigious title in August. He has the ability and confidence to dethrone the defending title holder.

On the women's side, Arizona, which finished fifth in the 2010 NCAA Championship, and UC Davis, figure to maintain U.S. domination and claim a fifth straight title.

National Women Collegiate League champion Nagoya University of Commerce hopes to end a five-year U.S. reign in the Topy team competition as seniors Kaori Makitani and Kaori Toki and freshman Mai Kashiwai, who finished fourth at the Japan Women Collegiate Championship, have been in good form.

"Because this is the last collegiate year for me, I will work really hard to help my team come up with a victory in Tanagura," captain Makitani said.

The men will play the par-72, 7,127-yard layout and the women the par-72, 6,036-yard course.

Tanagura Country Club is about a 40-minute drive from JR Shinshirakawa Station.