Anthony Quayle and Brad Kennedy earn Open Championship berths
Close but no cigar for Quayle but an Open Championship start all the same – photo Japan Golf Tour
Gold Coast based Anthony Quayle and Brad Kennedy have earned starts at the Open Championship at St Andrews in July after both finished as one of the leading four players inside the top twelve at the completion of this week’s Mizuno Open in Japan.
Quayle so nearly added his first Japan Tour title having lost the chance to do so when losing a playoff to Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, a bogey at the second extra hole securing him his equal best Japan Tour finish but not the win he was hoping for.
Vincent birdied the final hole of regulation play in his round of 65 to set the mark for Quayle who had led by four heading into day four.
Quayle appeared still appeared the likely winner when he birdied the 12th to remain ahead of Vincent and Kennedy but two bogeys and a birdie over his closing holes and the strong finish by Vincent saw the pair head for a playoff before both parred the 18th the first time round and Quayle bogeyed at the second attempt.
“The 150th Open at St Andrews is probably about as exciting and historic as it gets and as good as it gets for your first major,” said Quayle. “I am pretty excited.
“To experience the atmosphere and vibe around the Championship, to see some of the players I have idolised my whole life will be really exciting.”
30-year-old Vincent won his third Japan Tour title and given he began the final round seven shots off the lead then it was a well-earned victory.
Kennedy was also still very much in the mix with a few holes to play but a bogey at the 16th and not able to birdie the last cost him in the final analysis.
Still, for Kennedy, the 3rd place follows a 4th place last week and now, with an Open Championship start it offers the 47 year old a chance to play in his 5th major championship and his 4th Open Championship.
“This is two years in a row that I have qualified now and The 150th Open will be my fourth time playing in the Championship,” said Kennedy.
“Playing The Open on the Old Course at St Andrews is one of those golfing moments you always dream about. It’s going to be exciting, the crowd is going to be unbelievable.”
Quayle now moves to 10th on this year’s Japan Tour money list with A$140,000 (equiv) with Kennedy 11th with A$125,000.
New Zealand’s Michael Hendry finish in a share of 6th place, David Bransdon 32nd and Brendan Jones 36th.
