Kanemoto downs Jones in Mitsubishi win
BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2009 Mitsubishi Diamond Cup Golf | Round Four | 31 May 2009
Australian golfer Brendan Jones has been beaten in a playoff at the Mitsubishi Diamond Cup event at the Oarai Golf Club in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Jones, who led by two shots leading into today’s final round, fell victim to 38-year-old Takashi Kanemoto who, in defeating Jones, won his first Japan Golf event after 15 years on tour.
Kanemoto first played the Japan Golf Tour in 1994 but until today his best finish had been a runner up after a playoff to Hirofume Miyase at the 2003 Tsuruya Open.
Kanemoto had given no real indication that he would win this week having missed two of his first three cuts in 2009 but on the tough and demanding layout at Oarai Golf Club he produced a final round of 67 to catch and then ultimately defeat Jones at the 3rd extra hole. Two late birdies in his round saw him catch the Canberra golfer at the 16th hole.
Kanemoto birdied the final playoff hole after a superb shot from the fairway bunker to 8 feet.
Jones earned ¥15 million for his runner up finish and moves to third on the 2009 Japan Golf Tour money list.
“I was outputted today by Takashi today who was simply brilliant on the greens,” said Jones after his round. “He hit an awesome shot at the third playoff hole.”
Defending champion Prayad Marksaeng finished third, two shots behind the playoff score of 5 under.
The next best of the Australasians was Eddie Lee, who finished 22nd, Steve Conran and Nathan Uebergang were 40th, Craig Parry 44th and Steven Jeffress 48th.
The Japan Golf Tour now stays in Ibaraki for this week’s Japan Tour Championship.
