After leading home the Australasian challenge with a top-10 finish at the Japan Open Adam Bland will be itching to get underway at this week’s Bridgestone Open, a tournament where he has tasted success previously.

After leading home the Australasian challenge with a top-10 finish at the Japan Open Adam Bland will be itching to get underway at this week’s Bridgestone Open, a tournament where he has tasted success previously.

The South Australian tees up at the Sodegaura Country Club for the fourth time and boasts an enviable record in his previous three starts.

His T38 last year was his only finish outside the top-10, a T2 in 2015 and T6 on debut showing the left hander has an affinity for the course.

Australia’s most successful Japan Tour player, Brendan Jones, has also been in the top-10 at this event in his last two starts though they came five years apart.

Jones was T7 last year and also T7 in his previous appearance in 2010, a string of injuries and scheduling issues precluding him from playing in the interim.

Jones and Bland lead a full complement of Australasians teeing up this week with Matt Griffin, David Bransdon, Brad Kennedy, Kurt Barnes, Todd Sinnott and New Zealand’s Michael Hendry all in the field.

Hendry and Kennedy continue their battle for top Australasian on the money list for the second year running, Hendry holding a slim $22,000 lead with seven events remaining.

Hendry is 20^th on the list while Kennedy is 21^st while Adam Bland is not out of the reckoning at 31^st though at more than $100,000 behind will need to finish the year strong.