After his fourth consecutive top-five
finish at last week’s Kansai Open Brad Kennedy will continue to feel the good
vibes this week as he tees up at the site of his maiden Japan Tour victory, the
Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open.

Kennedy claimed the tournament in 2012 and
is yet to miss a cut at the FE Setonaikai Golf Club course in his five
appearances to date and has a fifth place finish in 2011 to go along with this
2012 win.

The Queenslander has become one of
Australia’s most consistent performers in Japan since joining the Tour full
time in 2011 and after another excellent start to the 2016 season seems likely
to claim a third victory sooner than later.

One of nine Australasians in the field this
week, Kennedy is one of two who has his name engraved on the trophy with 13
time Tour winner Brendan Jones also winning the tournament in 2004.

Injury concerns have troubled Jones much of
the last two seasons though he has already posted a top-10 in 2016 after just
five starts and will be looking for a more consistent year.

Matt Griffin, Kurt Barnes, Adam Bland,
Scott Strange, rookie Aaron Townsend and the two New Zealanders, Michael Hendry
and David Smail, round out the Australasians.

After a disappointing final round Scott
Strange will be looking to hit back this week with the sort of golf he played
over the first three days of last week’s tournament.

Having finished runner-up here last year he
will be confident of his chances and a first Japan Tour win is not out of the
question for him this week.

Veteran Japan Tour campaigner David Smail
has also come close at this tournament, losing a playoff in 2005 and finishing
second again in 2006 and 2009.

While he hasn’t been in his best form the
past two seasons he will be comfortable at the venue and a good result might be
just the tonic he needs to bounce back to his best.

Also on the line this week are three places
into The Open. The top-3 players, not already exempt, at the end of the four
rounds earning a trip to Royal Troon.