Japan Golf Tour
Date: 18-21. Apr. 2019.
Tournament Name: Token Homemate Cup
Course: Token Tado Country Club (PAR 71)
Venue: Nagoya, Japan
Venue: Nagoya, Japan
Total Prize Money: JPY200,000,000
18. Apr.
Round 1.
Leader: Oh David (Usa) and Sadakata Akio (Jpn)
Score: 63. (-8)
leaderboard
19. Apr.
Round 2.
Leader: Oda Koumei (Jpn) and Oh David (Usa)
Score: 132. (-10)
Leaderboard
20. Apr.
Round 3.
leader: Oda Koumei (Jpn) and Oh David (Usa)
Score: 203. (-10)
Leaderboard
21. Apr.
FINAL ROUND
WINNER: Jones Brendan (AUS)
Score: 269. (-15)
Final Results
18. Apr.
Round 1.
Leader: Oh David (Usa) and Sadakata Akio (Jpn)
Score: 63. (-8)
leaderboard
19. Apr.
Round 2.
Leader: Oda Koumei (Jpn) and Oh David (Usa)
Score: 132. (-10)
"Wind on my side" Rikuya Hoshino smoothly plays the Gusty Round 2
Rikuya managed to play along with the wind, same gusty wind that was making everyone else suffer in the field.
Rikuya is known to be a long hitter, but his talent is not only long distance, but his technique to hit in any direction he wishes. Upward, downward, left and right.
"I used to like to play in the winds. I like to challenge the wind with controlling my shots. Hit it break wind or make it low submarine fade shot, or whatever. I enjoy conquering the course under these wind conditions and it went really great today."
"Even in windy conditions, I aimed for it in 2 on Par 5's so I could get a birdie chance."
As he said, he gave himself a 1-meter eagle chance on the 4th.
"It was 240 yards to the pin, uphill lie with the ball below feet, pond on the right side, wind from the left. The shot could have been effected badly, but surprisingly it ended up great."
Rikuya drained the downhill right-to-left-breaking eagle putt.
On the 12th, he wisely used 3W and with the flat trajectory, made it to left side rough, which he chipped to easy birdie. Then on 17th, his last Par 5 of the day, he recalls "I could have chosen 9 Iron and control the shot". It was 160 yards to the pin, and he chose pitching wedge instead which was short to the green, but nevertheless, he got himself another birdie and finished 1 behind the leaders, in solo 3rd position.
Last season he got his victory number 1 at the Fuji Sankei Classics.
During the off season he had some hard schedules to go by but took enough time to take care of his body.
"I was able to win last season, but 50% of the times when I couldn't make the cut, I wasn't feeling healthy. So, I was very concerned about my physical wellness. I felt shock when I sprained my neck during the Japan Open last year when I had the chance to play with Adam Scott."
Rikuya's reason to be so caring about his physical toughness is the tournament scheduled in October, the ZOZO Championship, the first ever PGA Tour tournament that will be held in Japan. There are only 10 tickets for the Japan Tour players.
"If I could win that tournament, that will be invitation to USPGA. So, I must get that chance to be in one of the 10 players."
Rikuya is known to be a long hitter, but his talent is not only long distance, but his technique to hit in any direction he wishes. Upward, downward, left and right.
"I used to like to play in the winds. I like to challenge the wind with controlling my shots. Hit it break wind or make it low submarine fade shot, or whatever. I enjoy conquering the course under these wind conditions and it went really great today."
"Even in windy conditions, I aimed for it in 2 on Par 5's so I could get a birdie chance."
As he said, he gave himself a 1-meter eagle chance on the 4th.
"It was 240 yards to the pin, uphill lie with the ball below feet, pond on the right side, wind from the left. The shot could have been effected badly, but surprisingly it ended up great."
Rikuya drained the downhill right-to-left-breaking eagle putt.
On the 12th, he wisely used 3W and with the flat trajectory, made it to left side rough, which he chipped to easy birdie. Then on 17th, his last Par 5 of the day, he recalls "I could have chosen 9 Iron and control the shot". It was 160 yards to the pin, and he chose pitching wedge instead which was short to the green, but nevertheless, he got himself another birdie and finished 1 behind the leaders, in solo 3rd position.
Last season he got his victory number 1 at the Fuji Sankei Classics.
During the off season he had some hard schedules to go by but took enough time to take care of his body.
"I was able to win last season, but 50% of the times when I couldn't make the cut, I wasn't feeling healthy. So, I was very concerned about my physical wellness. I felt shock when I sprained my neck during the Japan Open last year when I had the chance to play with Adam Scott."
Rikuya's reason to be so caring about his physical toughness is the tournament scheduled in October, the ZOZO Championship, the first ever PGA Tour tournament that will be held in Japan. There are only 10 tickets for the Japan Tour players.
"If I could win that tournament, that will be invitation to USPGA. So, I must get that chance to be in one of the 10 players."
20. Apr.
Round 3.
leader: Oda Koumei (Jpn) and Oh David (Usa)
Score: 203. (-10)
David Oh in close position for the Victory No.2! Best sourvenir for baby girl!
he co-leaders, David Oh and Komei Oda were on the identical rhythm for the first 9 holes on the Round 3.
When Komei gets a birdie on 4th, so does David. Komei goes on to get straight birdie on 5th, so did David. They even had a bogey on the same 9th hole.
They were literary side by side during the moving Saturday run.
"I was glad that I could play well as Komei. It was fun", smiled David.
At the end both finished 10 under in total and became co-leaders for the final round tomorrow. David will be in the final group again tomorrow and will set his target for his victory number 2.
David came to Japan Tour 8 years ago. He has been a familiar face on this tournament since 2013, and this is his 6th appearance in a row, but his 2nd time to make the cut. Last year he finished solo 4th. This year he is again in great position for the win.
"Until now, the memories of not making the cut got back to me, but I am getting to love this course."
David says he is now able to enjoy the beautiful flowers decorating the course, and also the replica structure of "Kyoto's Kinkakuji" on the 13th hole,
"I can feel positive about my achievements in golf now. Or I should say I am achieving it now."
He has been struggling on his swing changes, but it was ready just in time for the season opening. Tomorrow will be the day to really show what he has achieved.
"I will be delighted if I could win the season opening event!"
V2 will be wonderful souvenir for the newly born baby girl Laura
21. Apr.
FINAL ROUND
WINNER: Jones Brendan (AUS)
Score: 269. (-15)
Unexpected? No, it was meant to be! Brendan Jones marks his Victory No.15
Brendan Jones, known as BJ has done it! He has been away from the win for 3 years, but BJ cruised his way on the Sunday afternoon with the score of bogey free 64 and grabbed his 15th win at the Japan Tour.
BJ has been absent from this opening event for 7 years, he scored 7 under for the final round with 1 eagle and 5 birdies, had pretty big lead coming into his Sunday back nine, but never at ease until the last putt.
His putts were hot all day through, made a 12-meter on the starting hole, and 6-meter eagle putt on the 4th. But suddenly, BJ started to miss the short ones on 15, 16, and 17.
At the same time, his good old friend Matthew Griffin was making the charge.
On the final hole, BJ pulled the Tee shot in to the fairway bunker, he challenged to make it on the green in two, but it flew way over and bounced on the spectator stands.
"At that moment, I was afraid that Matt will catch me."
BJ didn't feel comfortable using wedge on the approach shot from tough slope green side rough.
"I felt embarrassed, but had to use the putter"
He couldn't get it close enough and left 5-meter par saving putt.
"It felt longer than 5-meters."
BJ has been using Broom stick putter, but with the rule change in 2016, he has been having difficulties with putting.
"I told myself to believe in the efforts from practice during the off season."
Par saving, and also the winning putt rolled in, and BJ gazed up to the sky.
BJ is now 44 years old. His friend asked him last week, "how long are you going to continue?"
He had surgery on his left wrist in 2013 and 14, won the ANA Open in 2016, but he was feeling that he had become "old" for the game. He did have "retire" in his mind, thought that his Pro-life will be 2 more years, but that's all changed now.
BJ has been absent from this opening event for 7 years, he scored 7 under for the final round with 1 eagle and 5 birdies, had pretty big lead coming into his Sunday back nine, but never at ease until the last putt.
His putts were hot all day through, made a 12-meter on the starting hole, and 6-meter eagle putt on the 4th. But suddenly, BJ started to miss the short ones on 15, 16, and 17.
At the same time, his good old friend Matthew Griffin was making the charge.
On the final hole, BJ pulled the Tee shot in to the fairway bunker, he challenged to make it on the green in two, but it flew way over and bounced on the spectator stands.
"At that moment, I was afraid that Matt will catch me."
BJ didn't feel comfortable using wedge on the approach shot from tough slope green side rough.
"I felt embarrassed, but had to use the putter"
He couldn't get it close enough and left 5-meter par saving putt.
"It felt longer than 5-meters."
BJ has been using Broom stick putter, but with the rule change in 2016, he has been having difficulties with putting.
"I told myself to believe in the efforts from practice during the off season."
Par saving, and also the winning putt rolled in, and BJ gazed up to the sky.
BJ is now 44 years old. His friend asked him last week, "how long are you going to continue?"
He had surgery on his left wrist in 2013 and 14, won the ANA Open in 2016, but he was feeling that he had become "old" for the game. He did have "retire" in his mind, thought that his Pro-life will be 2 more years, but that's all changed now.
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