Imahira rules again as Kennedy falters

Australia’s Brad Kennedy had to be content with a share of fourth place at the Golf Partner Pro-Am Tournament after two late bogeys crushed his hopes of at least progressing into the playoff, which was eventually won by Shugo Imahira.

The 47-year-old, who teed off on the deciding day in joint-second place and two shots behind overnight leader Tomoharu Otsuki, signed off the week with a four-under-par 66 for a four-day total of 21-under-par 259- one shot short of making it into a four-way playoff with

Imahira, Otsuki and Tomohiro Kondo.

Kennedy had gotten off to a solid start with a birdie on the opening hole before adding three more in succession from the eighth to get to get to 21-under. 

However, he was left to rue a pair of costly bogeys on holes 14 and 15, although he eventually compensated for them with two gains on the next two holes.

A birdie at the last would have seen him force his way into the playoff, but all he could muster was a par on the final hole.

"I’m pretty gutted right now. I guess this one hurts. You only get so many chances a year," said Kennedy.

"I played nicely today, but I didn't get my yardages right on the short par-fours. I failed to make any birdies on those holes, which really cost me today.

“I hit a couple of bad shots on 14 and 15 and paid the price. I really grinded it out and made nice birdies on 16 and 17 and then made a great putt at the last, but I can't believe it didn't

break.

"All in all, it was the short pat-fours that I really needed to take advantage of. But there was nothing much I could do about them today," he lamented.

Kennedy's tied-fourth result is still the best result since he finished runner-up at the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup, the 2019 season-ending event.

Imahira, meanwhile, became the first multiple winner of the season after defeating Tomohiro Kondo with a birdie in the second extra hole of the tie-breaker.

Winning the title could have been the icing on the cake for Kondo, who had made the playoff after firing a magical 59, emulating Yuta Ikeda's feat in Thursday's opening round.

As for Otsuki, he had to deal with another playoff heartbreak for the second edition running after being eliminated in the first extra hole with a bogey. 

Last year, he also led after the penultimate round but ended up losing in the playoff to Shaun Norris of South Africa.

Imahira, who now has seven JGTO victories to his name, was delighted to have won the first back-to-back titles of his career.

"I'm so happy to win for two consecutive weeks," said Imahira.

"With a victory in sight, I was all pumped up in the morning.

"I really wanted to try to achieve it as I had never won back-to-back before in my career.

"This is a massive boost for me ahead of the US Open sectional qualifying. I hope to play in more major events."