Australia’s Lucas Herbert became the inaugural winner of the ISPS HANDA Championship when he sank a 12-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to beat Canada’s Aaron Cockerill.
With this tournament being the first-ever to be jointly sanctioned by the JGTO and DP World Tour, the 27-year-old Australian bagged not only his third DP World Tour title but also his maiden JGTO victory – making him the first foreign player to win on Tour this season.
The ending for the tournament was certainly befitting given that Herbert is currently sponsored by the ISPS HANDA.
“It’s great. Obviously coming on board as an ambassador for ISPS Handa this year, it’s great to win an event with them as the title sponsor,” said Herbert.
“It’s a real honour. And just to be back in Japan and win as well. I’ve come here so many times and loved it so to get back here and win, it means a lot.
“I think it’s cool to be able to win everywhere and have a lot of good memories from all the spots in the world where you have played.”
As a JGTO event winner, Herbert earned himself a two-year exemption to compete in Japan’s flagship circuit.
Herbert had previously featured in JGTO events twice – finishing tied-26th at the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup and tied-eighth at the SMBC Singapore Open.
Herbert said he would utilise his Tour card and see more action in Japan if his schedule permits him to.
“I would love to. As I said, I love coming to Japan. I will have to look at the schedule, it works out well, I’ll definitely come here to play more often.”
Herbert carded a three-under-par 67 to finish regulation play at the PGM Ishioka Golf Club on 15-under 265 and was joined later by overnight leader Cockerill at the top after the Canadian brilliantly saved par at the last with an incredible shot from the bunker.
Herbert mixed his scorecard with an eagle, three birdies and two bogeys while Cockerill notched four birdies to offset two bogeys on his way to a 68.
The first extra hole saw both Herbert and Cockerill miss their birdie attempts by a whisker.
In outright third was Scotland’s Calum Hill, who shot a 65 to finish just one shot ahead of Herbert and Cockerill, while fellow Scot Grant Forrest and JGTO veteran Hiroshi Iwata fired 68 and 65 respectively to be tied for fourth on 13-under 267.
Iwata was the only Japanese to finish inside the top-10 as the next best two home representatives – Takumi Kanaya and Keita Nakajima – were joint 12th on 271.
Japan’s Hiroshi Iwata. Photo credit: JGTOimages
The 42-year-old Iwata, a four-time JGTO winner, finished with a flourish when he fired a total of six birdies, five of which came in the late six-hole stretch starting from hole 12, against a lone bogey on 15.
Despite emerging as the best-performing local player this week, Iwata was far from pleased.
Iwata has been struggling to impress since the start of the year. He missed three straight cuts on the Asian Tour and was forced to withdraw after the first day of the Token Homemate Cup due to neck pain.
“I wasn’t too satisfied because I couldn’t play the way I wanted. I would like to put together good scores over all four days, not just today,” said Iwata.
“Starting this season, my condition was terrible, so I thought about many things. I didn`t feel like doing anything, even practising.
“In the middle of the first round, I was in bad shape, and I was up in arms and then lost enthusiasm. It still stays the same even after today.
“Today, whatever happened, I did not have any feelings, even when I made a birdie.”
The JGTO season will resume next week with The Crowns, which will be held at Nagoya Golf Club Wago Course in Aichi Prefecture.
Leading final round scores:
265: Lucas Herbert (Aus) 67-63-68-67, Aaron Cockerill (Can) 64-69-64-68;
Herbert won with a birdie in the second playoff hole
266: Calum Hill (Sco) 67-67-67-65;
267: Hiroshi Iwata (Jpn) 68-66-68-65, Grant Forrest (Sco) 68-62-69-68;
269: Robert MacIntyre (Sco) 66-72-67-64, Yannik Paul (Ger) 67-70-67-65, Jordan Smith (Eng) 66-66-69-68;
270: Jorge Campillo (Esp) 66-72-65-67, Deon Germishuys (Rsa) 64-68-70-69, Jazz Janewattananon (Tha) 67-63-70-70;
271: Keita Nakajima (Jpn) 65-69-72-65, Takumi Kanaya (Jpn) 66-66-67-72.
