Quayle's hoping to wear The Crown

Australia’s Anthony Quayle will be looking to translate his decent track record into a maiden JGTO victory when he returns for a fourth appearance in the 62nd edition of The Crowns tomorrow.

Quayle has claimed two top-five finishes in his last four visits to the Nagoya Golf Club's Wago Course in Aichi Prefecture, including tying for second in his season debut in 2018.

The Australian is brimming with confidence ahead of this week's ¥100,000,000 tournament after enjoying a morale-boosting tied sixth finish at the ISPS HANDA Championship in Japan last Sunday.

The 27-year-old is relishing the prospect of being crowned the winner in one of the longest-running events on JGTO. 

Contested from the first JGTO season in 1973, The Crown boasts a long list of illustrious winners, including Seve Ballesteros, Davis Love, Darren Clarke, and Justin Rose.

Quayle will be aiming to follow the footsteps of other countrymen in capturing the tournament, including Peter Thomson, David Graham, Graham Marsh, Peter Senior, Roger Mackay and Brendan James.

"I have played well at The Crowns and almost won a couple of times," said Quayle, who is currently placed 21st on the money list.

"The tied second in 2018 remains my best outing in Japan, but I look forward to contending once again and hopefully going one better this time.

"For me, it's a place that I really love to get back on. It's nice to find some form leading into this week."

Besides Quayle, the elite field at The Crowns is also made up of familiar international challengers such as reigning Order of Merit champion Chan Kim and fellow Americans Seungsu Han and Todd Baek, Australians Brendan Jones, Brad Kennedy and Matthew Griffin and Philippines trio Juvic Pagunsan, Angelo Que and Justin De Los Santos.

De Los Santos will be seeking to redeem himself after letting slip of an opportunity to secure his JGTO breakthrough last week.

He headed into the final round with a one-shot lead but could only muster a 70 to settle for sixth spot.

As for the local field, all three winners of the season - Jinichiro Kozuma (Token Homemate Cup), Kazuki Higa (Kansai Open) and first-time winner Yuto Katsuragawa (ISPS Handa Championship) - are in the fray this week.

But all eyes will surely be on Rikuya Hoshino if he can finally return to winning ways after coming close with a top-three finish in all his last three starts.

Hoshino, who is gunning a sixth title, staged a final-round charge last week but was pipped to the title by Katsuragawa by one shot.

He also finished one shot behind Higa at the Kansai Open.

"I feel frustrated, but it's not easy to win," said Hoshino on Sunday.

"It is very important to win the championship, but it is also just as important to be consistently in the mix.

"Being in this position means that you're heading in the right direction."