PRO GOLF NEWS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD

AUSSIE BLAND FINISHES JT 4th IN JAPAN

South Australia's Adam Bland has started his first season in Japan in style, finishing in a share of fourth place at the first event played on Japanese soil for the year.
The left hander, who earned his card at last year's qualifying school, finished four shots behind winner Yusako Miyazato and picked up a cheque for almost $60,000 Australian.
Bland was consistent over the four rounds shooting 69-68-68-69 for a 10-under total in the second event of the year but first played in Japan after the One Asia co-sanctioned Indonesian PGA last month.
It was the second Japan Tour victory for Miyazato who is the brother of former world number one in the women's game, Ai.
Steve Conran and Scott Strange were next best among the Australians after Bland, both finishing T28, while Kurt Barnes was the only other to make the cut and finished 64th on his own.
Brendan Jones, playing his first event since undergoing wrist surgery late last year, shot rounds of 72-70 to miss the cut by one and according to his website he will return to Australia for further treatment after playing in pain both days.
Also missing the weekend were Brad Kennedy, Stephen Leaney and Steve Jeffress.