Brendan has produced a final round of 66 to win the Asia Pacific Panasonic Open in Kobe Japan by one shot over Ryuichi Oda.

It was Brendan's 9th career win in Japan but his first since the Japan Series in December of 2007, a year in which he won three titles.

The victory and the accompanying 22 million yen moves Brendan to 8th position on the 2010 Japan Golf Tour money list and because of the co-sanctioning of the event, provides him with the right to play in selected Asian Tour events if and when he so chooses.

Brendan actaully receives ￥30,000,000 but because the event was reduced to 54 holes a figure of ￥22,500,000 will be accredited to the money list

Speaking from an Irish bar in Kobe soon after he had completed all the formalities of winning and where he was celebrating the victory with several Australians, Brendan expressed his delight in finally winning again.

"At the start of the day there were probably 24 guys within 4 shots of the lead and anything could have happened," said Brendan.  "It was the best day weatherwise for the whole week and I really didn't do too much wrong. Admittedly I did bogey the first but it was a tough hole and a lot were doing the same. Then I holed a bunker shot of about 12 yards or so at the 4th for eagle which got things going. I made a soft bogey at the par three 6th but after that I hardly put a foot wrong.

"At the last, another tough hole, I had a two shot lead and was playing about half an hour ahead of the final group. I missed the fairway and got a flyer with my second but really if I was going to miss the green there then long was the best place to be. I looked at the board when I finished and I was on 6 under and two guys were on 4 under and I liked my chances at that point but they both birdied although one then bogeyed and I got home by one."

"I holed a couple of putts which I haven't really been making all year and when it comes down to it that was the difference. When you win you tend to hole a couple of bunker shots and make putts and that was what happened today."

"As for the right to play the Asian Tour I will probably take up membership," added Brendan. "I probably won't play enough events to get myself on their money list each year but this win allows me to pick and choose events for the next couple of years there and I would like to do that."

Brendan will stay in Kobe overnight before heading north to Nagoya on Monday morning for this coming week's Tokai Classic.

trophy photo - Gary Kobayashi