Professionals and amateurs combine for the Horsham Telstra Store Western Open title this weekend in a first of its kind event.

This event signals the return of Professional golf to the Horsham Golf Club which lost its clubhouse and almost all of the trees on course during the 2008 Black Saturday fires, the layout is regarded as one of the best regional courses in Australia.

It’s just not the title on the line this weekend either; courtesy of Golf Victoria should the winner be a Professional not already exempt, they will gain a sponsor’s invite into the 2019 Vic Open, now a co-sanctioned European Tour event on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

“Simon Brookhouse and David Greenhill at Golf Victoria have been right behind this new concept from the start.  We simply don’t have an opportunity like this in any other event on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series,” said Heath McLeod, Tournament Coordinator for the PGA of Australia.

In another first for the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series, the PGA of Australia will combine with Golf Victoria’s amateur series, the Ivo Whitton and Susie Tolhurst, with all players competing for the Horsham Telstra Store Western Open title.

“This will give the state’s leading amateurs some real tournament experience.  They will play in exactly the same event and see their name on the leaderboard on the PGA of Australia website and App,” added McLeod.

Round two will be a seeded draw with the champion crowned at approximately 4.30pm on Sunday afternoon.

Over 100 players, caddies and spectators will converge on Horsham for the three-day event.  Friday will see leading Professionals hosting a free junior and beginner clinic at the club from 10.30am before joining local corporate partners for an afternoon teams event.

The tournament proper begins early on Saturday morning and with a quality field that features 2018 Vic Open champion Simon Hawkes, 2018 Coca-Cola QLD PGA champion Daniel Fox, 2016 Victorian PGA champion Ashley Hall and leading amateurs Kieran Vogels and Lukas Michel.

Former AFL footballer Jason Akermanis will also compete in the event as he prepares himself for a shot at the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Q-School presented by Cobra Puma this December in a bid to go from life as a retired footballer to professional golfer.