SCHAUMBURG, Illinois (July 29, 2009) - Nippon Shaft today congratulated the champion of the 2009 Evian Masters on winning her first LPGA event at one of the more prestigious and lucrative events on Tour.

The 24-year-old native of Japan used Nippon Shaft's custom-made N.S. Pro V-90 steel shafts in her Bridgestone irons to secure victory in the Tour's only tournament staged in France. She shot a total of 14-under par 274 on rounds of 69-66-70-69 that earned her a spot in a two-woman playoff. She made a three-foot birdie putt on the first hole of sudden death to take home a winner's check worth $487,500. She was the second Japanese winner of the Evian Masters.

The champion previously won 12 tournaments on the Japanese LPGA before coming to play full time in the U.S. in 2006. She has made 64 of 78 cuts (82 percent) since 2006 and logged 21 top 10s, including four this year.

Nippon Shaft has more than 50 professional victories worldwide. Based in Yokahama, Japan, Nippon Shaft is the No. 1 steel shaft in Asia where it controls 80 percent of the golf shaft market and is No. 2 and growing in the U.S. market.

Nippon Shaft is a subsidiary of privately held NHK, a Japanese automobile parts manufacturer. Nippon Shaft's North American headquarters is in Schaumburg, Illinois.