Perske, Smail earn Open starts at Mizuno Open

BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2006 Mizuno Open | Wrap | 25 Jun 2006

Brisbane golfer, Wayne Perske, and New Zealander, David Smail, today earned places at the British Open via their top four finishes at the Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open in Okayama.

Four British Open places were available from this event to those not otherwise qualified for the Open Championship which starts on July 20th. Perske actually shared fourth place today but because he had a better last round to that of his fellow fourth placegetter, Kiyoshi Maita, he gets the nod to play at Royal Liverpool in three weeks time. Smail finished in a share of second place this week behind Korean S.K. Ho.

In winning today’s event by three shots over Tatsu Ichihara and David Smail, the 32-year-old Ho won his sixth Japan Golf Tour title and continues a consistent run of form in Japan in recent seasons.

Ho started round four with a three shot lead and was never really threatened throughout the final day. Ichihara birdied three of the first five holes to get within two of the leader but he stumbled around the turn and like Smail was unable to place any real pressure over the closing stages.

Smail recorded his best finish of the season when his last round of 71 ensured he retained his overnight share of second place.

Perske, who won earlier in the year at the Token Homemate Cup, stormed home with a final round of 66 to grab that all important share of fourth place. Perske moves back inside the top ten on the Japan Golf Tour money list for 2006 with earnings the equivalent of A$330,000.

Of the other Australians in the field, Scott Laycock had his best tournament of the year when his last round of 70 saw him improve to 10th, Paul Sheehan was 16th, Brendan Jones was 30th and Andrew Bonhomme was 40th.

The Japan Golf Tour now heads to the UBS Japan Golf Tour Championship at Shisido Hills in Ibaraki Prefecture.