Site of the first of his 15 Japan Tour titles 17 years ago, Jones once again took a liking to the ABC Golf Club layout, spending the week ensconced inside the top 20 before making a late move up the leaderboard with a one-putt eagle at the par-5 18th hole.

A double-bogey at the opening hole of his second round was the only blemish through 36 holes for Jones who entered the final round tied for 19th courtesy of a third round of 3-under 69 that included an eagle at the par-5 15th.

The Canberran had a superb ball-striking day in the final round, hitting 17 of 18 greens and getting up-and-down at the par-3 12th in a bogey-free 5-under 67 capped by making three at the last and moving up to 12th on the Order of Merit.

A winner earlier in the season, the tie for seventh was Jones’s fifth top-15 finish in his past six starts.

Like Jones, David Bransdon also took full advantage of the par-5 finishing hole to bounce back from a disappointing Japan Open in positive fashion.

Five birdies in his final 10 holes saw Bransdon end day one tied for sixth and when he backed that up with a 3-under 69 in the second round entered the weekend tied for third.

Despite an opening birdie the Queenslander failed to get anything going in a third round of 72 but used three birdies and a closing eagle to move up into a tie for 13th at the completion of 72 holes.

With five events remaining Jones is the best positioned Aussie on the Order of Merit followed by Matthew Griffin (21st), Brad Kennedy (29th), Won Joon Lee (39th), Bransdon (43rd) and Anthony Quayle (47th) all inside the top 50.

Japan Golf Tour
Mynavi ABC Championship
ABC Golf Club, Hyogo

T7           Brendan Jones  69-70-69-67—275 ¥4,107,500
T13         David Bransdon 67-69-72-68—276 ¥2,692,500
T22         Won Joon Lee   65-74-68-71—278 ¥1,530,000
T32         Michael Hendry 70-72-67-72—281 ¥905,000
T42         Dylan Perry  71-72-68-74—285 ¥600,000
MC         Anthony Quayle 76-71—147