It was a slow start to the season for perennial Japan Tour contender Brad Kennedy but after back to back top 10 results, including a runner-up finish last week, the Queenslander will be confident heading into this week’s Kansai Open tournament.

Kennedy claimed one of his two career Japan Tour titles at this event four years ago and while being played at a different venue this year his form suggests he will be a threat.

While Brendan Jones has been Australia’s most successful Japan Tour player Kennedy has arguably been among the most consistent, finishing outside the top 30 on the Order of Merit just once in his six years as a full member.

It was an uncharacteristically slow start to the season for Kennedy who missed his first two cuts but he has been back in form since and will be one to watch this week.

Joining Kennedy at the Joyo Country Club are fellow regulars Won Joon Lee, Todd Sinnott, Matt Griffin, Kurt Barnes, Brendan Jones, Adam Bland and New Zealand’s Michael Hendry.

The newest member of the Tour from that group is Todd Sinnott who earned his card with a maiden victory at the co-sanctioned Myanmar Open in January.

With two missed cuts and two mid-field finishes so far in his rookie season the long hitting Victorian is yet to produce his best in Japan though has shown signs of good form and is a threat every time he tees up.

Fellow Victorian Matt Griffin returns to the Tour this week after skipping last week’s PGA Championship in what has been a year of consistent though unspectacular play.

The likeable Griffin has made three of four cuts so far but has a best of T15 and will be looking to improve on that this week.

Won Joon Lee has been anything but consistent in 2017 after withdrawing from his first two tournaments of the season.

A T9 at the Panasonic Open last month is his best to date but is surrounded by a missed cut and finishes in the 50’s, a third round 81 last week cruelling his chances of contending.

Adam Bland has enjoyed a similar season to Griffin with just one missed cut in six starts but only one top 10 and a series of mid-field finishes to his name.