Kennedy’s happy to soak in the positives after T2 finish

Australia’s Brad Kennedy will take the positives from the ASO Iizuka Challenged Golf Tournament rather than dwell on yet another near-miss of a fourth JGTO victory.

The evergreen 47-year-old has claimed his third top-four finish in four starts after settling for joint runner-up to Tomoyo Ikemura in the thrilling finale at the ASO Iizuka Golf Club in Fukuoka on Sunday.

Kennedy fell just short of capping a fine week with a victory despite closing with a brilliant seven-under-par 65 for 22-under-par 266 total.

He was pipped to the title by just one stroke by Ikemura, who shot a 68 to clinch a wire-to-wire victory.

Kennedy can certainly take heart after moving up to eighth in the season’s money list on the back of his efforts.

“My game is very good at the moment. There are some very good swing thoughts, and I feel comfortable contending. I just need to find a few more chances,” said Kennedy. 

“The course this week, you really had to shape your ball, which is what I love doing. The greens were great. I kept attacking but came up just short. I’m happy with my process this week, and I just need to work on my wedges, which is normally my strength.”

Following a hectic eight tournament schedule since early April, Kennedy will skip the Japan Players Championship by Sato Shokuhin in a fortnight and head back to Down Under to prepare for The Open.

“For the first half of the season in Japan, I really wanted to prove to myself that I’m still able to compete at a high level,” he said.

“I know I can improve, and a victory will be around the corner.”

South African Jbe Kruger, meanwhile, saved the best for last as he fired a closing nine-under 63 to emerge as the second-best international finisher in joint sixth spot. 

Kruger’s 20-under effort saw him finish the week just three shots off the winner.

It marked his best finish of the season.

Hyun Woo Ryu and Juvic Pagunsan were the other two non-Japanese players sitting in top-20 after tying for 17th and 20^th place, respectively.