Scottish men’s pro golf received a timely confidence shot in the arm with three players finishing inside the top-four at the close of the ISPS Handa International in Japan.
Gleneagles Calum Hill and Cragielaw’s Grant Forrest each led the inaugural hosting of the event during the course of the four days, and with both players well in the mix on the last day of the host course to the north of Tokyo.
Hill, and clearly back to his best after being side-lined for all but three events last year due to ill-effects of mosquito bites, posted a closing 65 and just missed out by a shot in making the play-off, grabbing third place.
Calum Hill looking back to his best of some 20 months ago in finishing third in the ISPS Handa International in Japan
It was still Hill’s best finish since a maiden Tour success some 20-months ago in Kent.
Hill said: “It was a good, solid week. It was close and hopefully I can build some momentum and give myself a chance the next couple of weeks as well.
“My confidence has been a bit slow coming back from injury and having a year off but my game has been feeling okay but the scoring has been terrible, so it was nice to put in four good rounds and have a solid tournament.”
Forrest went into the lead thanks to three birdies in succession from the third, and on the same day Crail’s Battle Trophy, that Forrest captured in 2016 as an amateur, was taking place in the East Neuk of Fife.
However, the 29-year-old Forrest then struggled, playing the next 13 holes in level par to eventually share fourth place, a shot behind Hill.
The effort is newly-engaged Forrest’s third top-10 in 10 starts this year, and taking his career earnings in 124 events to just shy of £stg 2m.
Oban lefty Bob MacIntyre grabbed his second straight top-10, thanks to a closing 64 for a share of sixth at 11-under.
MacIntyre’s effort will correct his slide down the World Rankings, having arrived in Japan at 98th in the world, and also a fortnight out from his defence of the Italian Open.
Disappointment though for Aberdonian David Law, heading into the last day a shot off the lead, but producing a horror last round of three birdies but also eight bogeys in a five-over 75 to drop to a share of 16th.
Aussie Lucas Herbert made it four wins on four different continents in the past three years, defeating Canadian Aaron Cockerill with a birdie at the second extra play-off hole, and after each player ended regulation play tied at 15-under.
Cockerill had lipped-out with his birdie putt at first extra hole before Herbert holed his birdie winner at the next
The Tour heads to South Korea this week before finally making its way to Europe in the first week of May, ahead of 20 straight events on European soil.
