A fourth place finish at last year’s European Open will hold Scott Hend in good stead as he continues his efforts to win on European spoil for the first time.

The 43-year-old has been close in recent weeks with back-to-back 54-hole leads but hasn’t been able to finish the job Sunday.

However, after a missed cut at last week’s Italian Open the Queenslander will be raring to go this week at a course he found to his liking in 2015.

Hend posted rounds of 69-69-68-65 at the Bad Griesbach course last year to be four shots behind winner Thongchai Jaidee.

Two clumsy double bogies in round three were Hend’s undoing last year though finishing with five birdies in his last nine holes to rocket up the leaderboard will be what he will remember most.

Hend is one of five Australians teeing up this week, Andrew Dodt, Brett Rumford, Richard Green and Jason Scrivener also in the field in Germany.

For Green the week will be about continuing his recent improving form as he battles to climb into a card keeping top 110 position on the Race to Dubai standings.

The veteran left hander is currently 120th but, like Hend, found this course to his liking in 2015.

Green opened with a 65 and closed with a 67 on his way to a T12 finish and more of the same this week would be welcome.

Brett Rumford is playing this event for the first time since 2009 and is in need of a good week as he sits 115th on the Race to Dubai.

2016 has been a mixed bag for the West Australian as he has played on a medical exemption following stomach surgery last year.

He showed some form at last week’s Italian Open in finishing T30 and that could be a good omen for this week.

Andrew Dodt and Jason Scrivener round out the Australian challenge, Scrivener also showing good signs last week in Italy.

After coming within a whisker of keeping his card in his rookie season of 2015 Scrivener is on track to achieve that goal in 2016 but at 105th, with the top-110 to advance, he is far from comfortable.

A strong finish to the year, beginning this week, will see him better able to plan his 2017 with improved status.