Veteran Steve Conran has just one victory in his 17 years playing the Japan Tour but if ever he is to post a second then the limited field Crowns tournament, to be played this week, might be his best chance.

Conran’s record at the Nagoya Golf Club’s Wago Course is exceptional with four finishes in the top-5 and a further four in the top-10 in 13 appearances since the turn of the century.

He has twice finished runner-up (2005 and 2012) and backed up his T2 three years ago with a T3 in 2013 and T9 last year.
 
While rarely considered a favourite at the start of any tournament the 47-year-old Conran could easily finish top among the eight Australasians teeing up this week.
 
In stark contrast to Conran’s form at the tournament Australia’s most successful Japan Tour player Brendan Jones has generally struggled at this course.
 
A win in 2011 is one of only three top-10 finishes for the 13 time Tour winner since joining the Japanese circuit in 2000.
 
Fellow veteran David Smail has had similar form at The Crowns, four top-10 results in 16 attempts with a best of T5 in 2007.
 
Of the rest of the Australasians Michael Hendry will be the focus for many after his season opening win a fortnight ago and solid opening round to share the lead through 18 holes at last week’s China Open.
 
While he slipped down the leader board over the final three days in China there’s no question his confidence is high and if he is over the fatigue of his victory will likely be a factor this week.
 
This will be just the second time he has played the event after finishing T31 last year, but with a more confident approach this week a better result will be expected.
 
Also playing this week are Kurt Barnes, Peter Wilson, Brad Kennedy, Scott Strange and Adam Bland.
Barnes has two missed cuts with a best finish of fourth in his five appearances while Strange plays for just the second time after a T36 finish last year.
 
Wilson and Bland are playing for the first time while Brad Kennedy, who played solidly at the season’s first event for a top-20 finish two weeks ago, was T5 here last year and hasn’t missed the cut in three tries.