Aussie Jones wins Casio World Open in Japan

Canberra’s Brendan Jones has produced a scintillating final round 64 at the Casio World Open but came up agonisingly short of a 15^th Japan Tour title.
Australia’s most successful player on the Tour, Jones began Sunday outside the top-20 but stormed up the leaderboard with an outward nine of 6-under 30 to apply pressure to the leaders.
A seventh birdie of the day at the 10^th suggested something special in the air but despite his brilliance a string of pars stalled his momentum.
His eighth and final birdie came at the 14^th and he failed to birdie the par-5 18th to finish one shot behind winner Sengsu Han.
While no doubt disappointed to come up shot Jones will be more than pleased with his play, his 8-under effort he best of the day by two shots.
The runners-up cheque also moved him to 28^th on the Order of Merit behind only Michael Hendry (17^th) and Brad Kennedy (23^rd) of the Australasians playing in Japan.
Kennedy was next best on the leaderboard at 12^th alone, the only other of the four Australian in the field to make the cut.
Both Kurt Barnes and David Bransdon failed to qualify for the weekend, effectively ending their chances of attaining full playing rights for 2018.
The leading 60 players are automatically exempt while those in positions 60-70 retain some limited status.
Bransdon began the week in 76^th position and dropped to 78^th while Barnes ended the season 83^rd.