Sonoda’s Mizuno win earns Open start
BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2010 Mizuno Open Yomiuri Classic | Round Four | 27 Jun 2010
20 year old Shunsuke Sonoda has not only won his first Japan Golf Tour event but in doing so he has earned himself a start at the Open Championship at St Andrews in three weeks times.
Sonoda held on to win the Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open near Osaka by three shots over veteran Toru Taniguchi and, as one of the leading four players in this event not otherwise qualified for St Andrews, he earns himself the right to play his first major championship.
After the third round had been washed out by rain on Saturday the event was reduced to 54 holes. Sonoda, who led by one into today’s final round, could have been forgiven for fading in his first experience in contention but instead he was most impressive when opening with an birdie and an eagle.
Just when it appeared as if the 16 time Japan Golf Tour winner, Taniguchi, might catch him over the closing stages, Sonoda drew clear with four birdies in his last six holes for the breakthrough win.
Korea’s Jae-Bum Park finished alone in third position three shots behind Taniguchi.
Six players tied for fourth position but only one, Hirofumi Miyase, was entitled to the fourth spot available from this event for St Andrews. He earned that right on a count-back with the final position decided by the best final round amongst those sharing 4th position.
It was an agonising day therefore for Brisbane golfer Wayne Perske who bogeyed the final hole to finish in that group. A par would have been enough to see Perske play in his second Open Championship. Wen Chong Liang and Nobuhiro Masuda also suffered a similar fate at the last.
Perske’s share of fourth position brings some consolation however in that it was his best finish of the season and provides a big leap to 53rd on this season’s money list.
Brendan Jones was 31st, Craig Parry 52nd Eddie Lee 56th and Brad Andrews 60th.
The Japan Golf Tour will now play the Toshin Golf Tournament in Mie Prefecture.
