Lucas Herbert adds another international win to his name
Photo Japan Golf Tour
Australian Lucas Herbert has birdied the second extra hole of a playoff against Canadian Aaron Cockerill to win the $A2.9 million ISPS Handa Championship in Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan.
Both players finished 72 holes at 15 under and one ahead of Scotland’s Calum Hill but Herbert would hole a 12 foot birdie putt at the second playoff hole to win his third DP World Tour event but his first Japan Tour event, the tournament being the first to be jointly sanctioned by the DP World and Japan Tour.
Herbert now enjoys membership of the PGA, the DP World and now the Japan Tour with an embarrassment of choices in terms of his playing options.
“It’s great. Obviously coming on board as an ambassador for ISPS Handa this year, it’s great to win an event with them as the title sponsor,” said Herbert.
“It’s a real honour. And just to be back in Japan and win as well. I’ve come here so many times and loved it so to get back here and win, it means a lot.
“I think it’s cool to be able to win everywhere and have a lot of good memories from all the spots in the world where you have played.”
As a JGTO event winner, Herbert earned himself a two-year exemption to compete in Japan’s flagship circuit.
Herbert has also won on the PGA Tour where his best finish this year has been when 9th at the Dell Technologies Match Play Championship after losing narrowly to Rory McIlroy in the Round of 16.
Herbert who is an ambassador for this week’s tournament host, the ISPS Handa Organisation, set up the win with a second round of 63 after experiencing travel troubles early in the week which meant he played the opening round without any first-hand knowledge of the layout at the PGM Ishioka Golf Club other than that supplied by his caddie.
The win will move Herbert from 59th to around 42nd in the world ranking when the rankings are revised tomorrow and close to his highest ever ranking of 40th.
Herbert narrowly missed out on a start at The Masters being 51st and one spot out of the entry criteria when they were decided in late March.
New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier finished in a share of 23rd and Australian Brad Kennedy 70th.
