Inoue holds off Jones in Japan
IN: News | Japan | Canon Open (2008) | Round Four | by Bruce Young | 12 Oct 2008
A brilliant final round of 65 has seen 33-year-old Makato Inoue storm home from 14th overnight to win the inaugural Canon Open at the Totsuka Country Club near Yokohama. It was Inoue’s first win on the Japan Golf Tour in nearly four years.
A brilliant early burst in his final round had Inoue at 7 under through his first 13 holes and although he could only par the last five holes he had done enough to edge out a group of four golfers just one shot behind.
Hiroyuki Fujita appeared to be the player to beat early on the final day when he eagled the first and birdied the second to be 15 under par. He still led with a few holes to play but bogeys at the 15th and 17th cost him a chance of initially an outright win and a then a playoff and he eventually shared second with Yusaku Miyazato, Taichi Teshima and Yasuharu Imano.
The round of the day however would come from Australian, Brendan Jones, who was simply brilliant as he raced through the field picking up an eagle, eight birdies and a bogey in his first 16 holes. The eagle came at the par three 5th (his 14th of the day) where Jones holed in one.
At that point it appeared he might even pull off an improbable victory but a bogey at his 17th hole cost him that chance. Still his final round of 64 had moved him from an overnight 36th to a share of 6th position.
“The hole in one was with an 8 iron and it flew straight in the hole and nearly demolished half the hole,” said Jones after his round. “I guess you could say I had a day out. Unfortunately I bogeyed my 17th and missed a very good chance at the last. I had nothing to lose today and was more aggressive with my putter today. I am extremely happy.”
David Smail and Steve Conran were 13th, Craig Parry 25th, Paul Sheehan 49th, and Chris Campbell 56th.
The Japan Golf Tour now moves south to the Japan Open Golf Championship at the Koga Golf Club in Fukuoka.
