Hat-trick for Jones at Tsuruya Open
IN: News | Japan | Tsuruya Open (2007) | by Bruce Young | 22 Apr 2007
32-year-old Canberra golfer, Brendan Jones, today successfully defended his Tsuruya Open title and in doing so won the event for the third consecutive time. Jones won in 2004 but did not play the tournament in 2005 as he was in the USA competing on the PGA Tour. He won by two over Mamo Osanai in 2006.
A piece of the Yamanahora Golf Club’s Yamanohora Course in the Hyogo Prefecture near Osaka, might well find it’s way onto the back lawn of the Jones home in Canberra such is the comfort zone Jones has with the course. He also finished 6th in 2003 after being in second place heading into the final round that year.
With a three shot lead as the event entered its final round, Jones opened with a birdie at the first today before a bogey at the 4th and a string of birdies by his nearest pursuer, Hirofume Miyase, just prior to the turn had the margin back to one through twelve holes. There was just one shot further back to Katsumasa Miyamoto and Takyua Taniguchi and so the early three shot lead was under attack.
Brendan remained just one ahead over the next two holes, but birdies at the par four 15th and the par five 17th gave him the cushion he needed and he was afforded the luxury of a missed three footer for birdie at the last and still won by two over Miyase, Massy Kuramoto and Takyua Taniguchi.
“I just lagged the putt,” he said jokingly as he was about to board the Bullet Train for Tokyo where he will play a Corporate Day on Monday prior to heading for Nagoya for next week’s Crowns tournament.
Tanaguchi and Kuramoto both birdied three holes late in their rounds to grab a share of second place with Miyase, the 51-year-old Kuramoto producing his best Japan Golf Tour finish since the 2004 Okinawa Open. Kuramoto, a winner of 30 events on the Japan Golf Tour, has played the US Champions Tour in the last two years since heading the Qualifying School there in 2005.
For Jones, the 1999 Australian Amateur Champion, this was his sixth Japan Golf Tour victory. He and his wife Adele are expecting their first child in July so this win comes at a good time for Jones especially given the concern he has had over a recurring back injury in the past two years.
Scott Laycock was the only other Australian to make the cut, finishing in 18th place after being in contention early in the event.
The Japan Tour heads to the Nagoya Golf Club’s Wago course for the Crowns Tournament starting on Thursday.
Photo – Anthony Powter
