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Brendan goes close to Open start at Mizuno |
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Written by Bruce Young
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Sunday, 28 June 2009 |
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It was a case of so near yet so far for Brendan in today's final round of the Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open.
Brendan eventually finished in a tie for 8th but the chance of a start the Open Championship at Turnberry came agonisingly close over the closing nine holes.
Brendan needed something special today if he was to earn one of the four places available at Turnberry via this week's event. He had created the opportunity via a strong late finish in Saturday's third round where he birdied four of his last five holes to move into a share of 13th position at five under. He was a massive nine shots behind the lead at that point but only five shots out of the top four. A big final round might just get the job done but when he started with a bogey his task was made all the more difficult.
By the 10th however he was 2 under for the day and 7 under for the tournament and with two par fives still to come the chance was there to get to 9 or 10 under and grab a place in the top four. Alas it was not to be and when he bogeyed the par five 16th it was all over in terms of his main goals for this week.
It was yet another good finish for Brendan however, his 4th top ten in six Japan Golf Tour starts in 2009 and he moves to 4th on the money list.
Brendan will now head back to Canberra for a break of a month before his return for two events in Hokkaido, the first beginning on July 23rd.
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Brendan recovers from horror start |
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Written by Bruce Young
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Saturday, 27 June 2009 |
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Brendan is in 34th position after the second round of the Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open near Osaka, his second round of 70 improving his position from 56th after his opening round.
After a horror start to the event on Thursday where he dropped four shots in his first five holes, Brendan may well have been wondering why he made the effort to fly back for the one event but he fought back to finish with one over 73.
"It was a shocking start," said Brendan after his opening round. "I missed some very short putts on two out of the first 3 holes then hit my tee shot on the par 3 13th OB with a seven iron. I played great after that but putted horrendously. I feel I should be about 4 under even with my shocking start!!!"
He made a much better start to his second round and was three under through 13 holes before bogies at the 15th and 16th had him back close to the cutline.
A birdie at the par five last however saw him finish at 1 under and although ten shots from the leader, Hyun Sung Kim, he at least has a chance to make progress over the weekend.
Brendan will need a big weekend if he is to threaten one of the four places available this week for the Open Championship but it is not beyond the realms of possibility.
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