Hwang’s back!

Jung-gon Hwang of Korea is back in Japan this week for the ¥120,000,000 Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega Sammy Cup in a bid for another fifth JGTO title.

The 30-year-old, who will be making his only third start of the season, came close in his previous trip in early May but had settled for second placing, three shots behind Yuki Inamori at The Crowns.

Hwang will be hoping to replicate his rich vein of form enjoyed back home where he finished no worse than a tied-23rd in his last five appearances since June.

In that duration, he ended a five-year title drought on Korean Tour by winning the Asia CC Busan Open and also came in runner-up at the KPGA Championship.

Now that Hwang's back in Japan, he will be fired up for a good showing at the North Country Golf Club in Hokkaido as he seeks to resume his superb campaign in 2019. 

He played no part in the 2020/21 season as he had to undergo a mandatory two-year military service.

Hwang won the Mynavi ABC Championship for his fourth JGTO title and registered three top-three finishes, including finishing second in the season-ending Dunlop Phoenix and Japan PGA Championship that year.

He will be banking on his familiarity with this course to help him excel. In 2017, he was pipped to the title by American Chan Kim by just one shot and finished a creditable joint sixth during his last visit in 2019.

Australian Brad Kennedy will be the other international star to look out for as he aims to contend again at the venue where he last tasted his JGTO success in 2018 for his third crown.

The 48-year-old has been one of the most consistent international performers in the first half of the season, placing 11th on the Money Rankings.

With four top-10 finishes including a tied-second at the ASO IIzuka Challenged Golf Tournament, he looks set to knock on the door again.

Fellow Australian Anthony Quayle, the highest-ranked international player on the Money Rankings in sixth spot, will also be determined to continue the fine momentum he has built thus far. 

Quayle, who finished a laudable tied-15th at The Open last month, will continue to hunt for his maiden title after being beaten in the playoff by Zimbabwe's Scott Vincent at the Mizuno Open.

American Jay Choi and South Korea's Young Han Song, the two top-performers of last year's edition in tied fifth, are also in the fray this week alongside South African ace Shaun Norris and 2011 champion Kyung Tae Kim.

Kazuki Higa is the defending champion of the tournament.