Brad Kennedy continuing a very consistent season – photo Japan Golf Tour.
Despite throwing all he could at the eventual winner, Tomoto Ikemura, Australian Brad Kennedy has finished runner-up at the Japan Golf Tour’s ASO Iizuka Challenged Golf Tournament in Fukuoka.
The evergreen 47-year-old has claimed his third top-four finish in four starts after settling for joint runner-up to Tomoyo Ikemura in the thrilling finale.
In 13 starts in events in Japan and Australia in 2022 the Gold Coast based professional has been inside the top ten on eight occasions.
Kennedy fell just short of capping a fine week with a victory despite closing with a brilliant seven-under-par 65 for 22-under-par 266 total.
He was pipped to the title by just one stroke by Ikemura, who shot a 68 to clinch a wire-to-wire victory.
Kennedy can certainly take heart after moving up to eighth in the season’s money list on the back of his efforts.
“My game is very good at the moment. There are some very good swing thoughts, and I feel comfortable contending. I just need to find a few more chances,” said Kennedy.
“The course this week, you really had to shape your ball, which is what I love doing. The greens were great. I kept attacking but came up just short. I’m happy with my process this week, and I just need to work on my wedges, which is normally my strength.”
Following a hectic eight tournament schedule since early April, Kennedy will skip the Japan Players Championship by Sato Shokuhin in a fortnight and head back to Down Under to prepare for The Open Championship in which he has a start courtesy of his good finish at the recent Mizuno Open.
“For the first half of the season in Japan, I really wanted to prove to myself that I’m still able to compete at a high level,” he said.
“I know I can improve, and a victory will be around the corner.”
