Colorado State University Athletics
USA Defeats Japan, Martin Suffers Second Straight Loss
7/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | General
The United States defeated Japan 32-28 on Friday during the final round of the 2004 Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship at the Taiheiyou Club Ichihara Course in Ichihara, Japan. It was the USA?s ninth straight victory giving them an all-time 22-7 series lead against Japan. Taking home the MVP honors for team USA was Michael Putnam.
Entering the final round and holding a 21-15 lead it looked like the United States would meet defeat in the first round. Things quickly changed when Japan's Giteku Gon missed a three-foot put for a double bogey and the win to halve the hole with Justin Smith. The USA then turned it on and won two straight matches propelling them to a 26-16 lead. Japan would follow by winning the next two matches after former CSU standout Nolan Martin's second shot went in the water on No. 18 to lose the match by one-stroke (70-71) to Takamasa Yamamoto, and Yuta Ikeda downed Trent Erb (67-77). It was MVP Michael Putnam who clinched the victory for Team USA with a 10-stroke personal victory in the final match of competition. Martin?s defeat was his second in two days, but proved not to be a decisive one.
