Que’s hopeful of a good result at Kansai Open Golf Championship

Filipino golf ace Angelo Que hopes to translate his impressive past outings into a victory when he competes in the storied ¥80,000,000 Kansai Open Golf Championship that is celebrating its 87th edition this week.

The 43-year-old has been trying to add a second win to his JGTO career after capturing the Top Cup Tokai Classic in 2018, and he is fired up to rekindle the winning feeling at the Yomiuri Country Club in Hyogo.

The last time Que played in the tournament, held at the Koma Country Club in Nara then, he finished a commendable tied fourth following a sublime 65 in the final round.

But if his other years' results in various venues are anything to go by, one can certainly put the money on him to do well again.

Besides missing his only cut in 2017, Que chalked up a tied 18th finish in 2015 and 2016 and came in joint eighth in 2018.

"I couldn't make it for last year's Kansai Open because I didn't get my visa in time," said Que.

"I'm certainly looking forward to playing this event again this year, and I'm always grateful that I get a chance to participate again. 

"I seem to have good results playing the Kansai Open. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate this week."

Que will be joined by a stellar cast of international stars that comprises of American duo Chan Kim, the reigning Order of Merit champion and last year's runner-up and Seungsu Han, who recorded two top-four finishes in 2017 and 2019, as well as JGTO winners South African Shaun Norris and Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe.

They will take on the power-packed local contingent spearheaded by defending champion Rikuya Hoshino and in-form Jinichiro Kozuma and Yuto Katsuragawa, the Token Homemate Cup champion and runner-up a fortnight ago, and also past winners Tomoharu Otsuki, Ryuko Tokimatsu, Shugo Imahira, Daisuke Kataoka, Koumei Oda, Toshinori Muto and Ryo Ishikawa.

The 150-man field also includes South Korea's Byungmin Cho and Australia's Brad Kennedy, the two international players who came out tops in 2016 and 2013, respectively.

The last year's edition at the Arima Royal Golf Club saw Hoshino edged Kim by two shots in a nail-biting contest that went all the way to the final hole.

The victory made up for his near-miss in 2019 after losing to Otsuki in the playoff.

Hoshino will not be short of confidence coming into this week's tournament following a solid third placing finish at the Token Homemate Cup.

He will be aiming to become the first player to defend the title since the tournament was revived as a JGTO-sanctioned tournament in 2008.

"I hope to resume my fine form and try my best to win the championship this week," he vowed.

Established in 1926, one year earlier than the Japan Open Golf Championship, the Kansai Open has been recognised as the first-ever professional event to be held in Japan and tees off on Thursday.

• A・キュー
• 星野陸也