Former winners Brendan Jones and Brad Kennedy lead a strong Australasian challenge at the Japan Tour’s Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open this week.

Jones is a two time winner having claimed the title in both 2004 and 2013 while Kennedy’s 2012 triumph was the first of his two career Japan Tour victories to date.

The tournament has been a happy hunting ground for Australians since its inception in 1971 and carries the added bonus in recent years of offering a place in The Open Championship.

The top-4 players inside the top-12 and not otherwise qualified for the year’s third major will earn a place at Royal Birkdale, nine Australasians hoping to be among that number.

Kennedy will be among the tournament favourites this week as he not only boasts a good record in this event but brings good form into the week.

The consistent Queenslander was one of three Australians to finish in the top-5 at last week’s Kansai Open, his second straight top-5 and third top-10 in as many tournaments after a slow start to the season.

David Bransdon and Kurt Barnes were also among the seven players to finish under par last week alongside Kennedy and both will be looking to replicate that form as they seek to become the sixth Australian to hoist the trophy.

Aside from Kennedy and Jones, Australian winners have included Chris Campbell (2005), Roger Mackay (1991) and Brian Jones (1990).

Adam Bland, Won Joon Lee, Matt Griffin, Todd Sinnott and New Zealanders Ben Campbell and Michael Hendry will also tee up in the event.

Hendry boasts a formidable record at this tournament with just one finish outside the top-10 in his four starts.

He was T5 in 2016 and is playing good golf this season with a win at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open in March and no missed cuts in his four Japan Tour starts thus far.