Gutsy weekend play at last week’s KBC Augusta tournament will see Matt Griffin head to this week’s Fujisankei Classic with some confidence as he returns to a course where he has played well before.

Griffin finished T6 at this venue two years ago, a result he has bettered only once in his three years in Japan, and looks in good form ahead of the week.

It has been a decent 2017 to date for the likeable Victorian with three missed cuts from nine starts offset by three top 15 finishes.
Griffin is one of six Australasians in this week’s field, Brendan Jones, Michael Hendry, Adam Bland, David Bransdon and Won Joon Lee also teeing up.

Jones was the top finisher last week and has enjoyed good form at this course and venue over the years with a third placing in 2014 his best.

Next week marks the one-year anniversary of his last Japan Tour win and, given he has historically played well at this time of year, he is likely to be a threat this week.

New Zealander Hendry was also in form last week with a T9 result but has found this week’s venue less to his liking over the years.

Twice in four appearances he has been T20 with missed cuts in the other two years though with his game in good shape there is no reason he can’t be in the mix come Sunday.

For Adam Bland a missed cut last week after playing so well in Fiji will sting and he will be keen to improve on the T21 finishes he posted here in 2014 and 2015.

Like Hendry, Bland has found his comfort zone in Japan and for the most part this year has played well without reaching his best.

His final round 65 in Fiji was a timely reminder of his capabilities, however, and he will be aiming for a big finish to the season.

Won Joon Lee and David Bransdon round out the Australian challenge, Bransdon looking to build on some solid golf last week while Lee searches for form in trying to avoid a third consecutive missed cut.