In-form Nakajima ready for new challenge at Yokohama Minato Championship - Fujiki Centennial

The JGTO season heads to Kanagawa this week, where a field of 150 players, led by in-form Keita Nakajima, will compete to engrave their name as the inaugural winner of the Yokohama Minato Championship - Fujiki Centennial.

The tournament, with a purse of ¥100,000,000, kicks off tomorrow at the Yokohama Country Club. It's being held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Fujiki Enterprises Co., Ltd.

Additionally, it aims to give back to the local community by hosting a men's professional golf tournament in Kanagawa Prefecture, the birthplace of the company.

With Takumi Kanaya absent this week, the current second-place holder, Nakajima, aims to seize this golden opportunity to claim the top spot on the fiercely contested JGTO money list.

The 23-year-old Nakajima has been enjoying a strong run of form since the season began in April, highlighted by his victory at the ASO IIZUKA Challenge Golf Tournament in June.

He has made the cut in all of his 11 starts and has placed in the top five on six occasions, including a tied fifth finish at last week's Japan PGA Championship.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Nakajima, who has amassed ¥68,060,019 to date, is poised to unseat Kanaya, who leads the season-long race with ¥70,777,333, with another solid performance.

With the champion's purse of ¥20,000,000 up for grabs, even Kensei Hirata, who climbed to third on ¥54,001,423 after his incredible victory at the Japan PGA Championship, and fourth-placed Taiga Semikawa (¥53,938,892) could potentially find themselves at the top by the end of this week.

Another star to watch is none other than the reigning money list champion, Kazuki Higa.

The 28-year-old, who has made only a handful of domestic starts due to his commitments abroad, has a point to prove after falling short of expectations so far.

Including last week, he failed to make the cut in four appearances and will be looking to make his mark once again.

The international challenge will be led by South African Jbe Kruger, Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines, and Yang Ji-ho of South Korea, all of whom have each won a title this season.

They are joined by 2019 Japan Open champion Shaun Norris of South Africa, Australian duo Brad Kennedy and Anthony Quayle, and Justin De Los Santos of the Philippines.

Three-time PGA Tour champion and 10-time JGTO winner Shigeki Maruyama, who serves as the tournament's ambassador, has warned competitors to prepare for the challenging "monster" course in addition to the sweltering hot weather.

"As the tournament ambassador, and as a pro under contract with Fujiki Enterprises, I will do my best to make this tournament exciting," Maruyama said. "It's a monster course, so you may be more beaten up by it than the heat."

JGTO President Isao Aoki thanked the organizers for their efforts to stage this groundbreaking tournament.

"Congratulations on your 100th anniversary. I also won my first Kanto Pro tournament at Yokohama Country Club over 50 years ago, so I feel a connection. Thank you very much," he said.

"Everyone has been looking forward to this tournament. I anticipate a heated battle will unfold."

Ends.