Victoria’s Matt Griffin has matched his best career result on the Japan Tour and simultaneously wrapped up his playing rights for 2018 with a T5 finish at the lucrative Heiwa PGM Championship.

Two back-9birdies Sunday proved crucial for the 34-year-old as he climbed several spots on the leaderboard but, more importantly, also played his way into the top-60 on the money list to ensure full playing rights next season.

The result also means Griffin can return home to play the Emirates Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship which clash with the last two events on the Japan Tour schedule.

“Pumped to finish 5th this week in Japan to lock away full status for 2018 and now means I can get home to play @AusOpenGolf and the #auspga,” he tweeted after his round.

The finish matched Griffin’s T5 at last year’s Crowns tournament and is his best since joining the Japan Tour full time in 2015.

He was the best of the Australasians in the field, one ahead of New Zealand’s Michael Hendry who was T9.

An even par final round from David Bransdon kept alive his hopes of retaining status for next year as he moved to 72^nd on the money list.

He needs to be top-70 to have a limited exemption category next season but that task will be difficult as he will not be eligible for the next two events on the schedule.

Brad Kennedy was the last of the Australasians to make the cut and finished T36 while Kurt Barnes and Adam Bland failed to qualify for the weekend.