Important finish for Brad Kennedy at the Japan Open
Brad Kennedy – file photo Japan Golf Tour
Gold Coast golfer, Brad Kennedy, has struggled for much of the 2023 Japan Golf Tour season but at this week’s Japan Open Championship, he found form at a time that was so crucial in his quest to retain the right to play the tour next year.
The 49-year-old Kennedy couldn’t have chosen a better tournament to showcase his return to form with a share of 3rd place in the flagship event.
Kennedy birdied three of his last five holes, finishing as the top non-Japanese competitor this week.
This impressive performance earned him ¥9,828,000 — more than he accumulated from his previous 13 starts.
This proves crucial as he is now poised to retain his Tour card for the next season, having broken into the top-65 on the money list with this result. He currently ranks at No. 39 with earnings of ¥18,547,795.
This was Kennedy’s 14th start in Japan this season but after a reasonable start to the year, things have fallen away of late, and with not one top ten all season he had slipped outside the top 65. He now appears assured of retaining his long-standing on the Japan Golf Tour where he has won three times and earned close to ¥500 million ($A5 million).
Kennedy finished five shots from winner, Aguri Iwasaki, whose first Japan Tour win was his national open.
Anthony was the next best of the Australasians in a share of 36th place and the only other to make the weekend.
Adam Scott missed the cut by one and Sydney amateur, Jeffrey Guan, by two.
