The Melbourne-based pro carded a course record seven-under par (63) to win the $25,000 event in near-perfect conditions but David McKenzie, who finished 11th in the Australian PGA on the Gold Coast two weeks ago, is just one of the 50 professionals already entered for the tournament.

Club professional John van der Veen said there were another five players who had played in the PGA and Masters at Royal Melbourne last week among the entries.

“It is a pretty big purse, among the biggest on the Victorian pro-am circuit,” he said.

“Besides the prizemoney as an incentive, the winner also gets a start in any pro-am across Australia and that includes some worth upwards of $50,000 in Queensland.

“To have 50 professionals entered three weeks out from the event shows the standing of this pro-am on the golfing calendar.”

In addition to the prizemoney, a $40,000 Lexus is the prize for a hole in one on the 10th at Albury.

Van der Veen is also talking up the professionals shootout on the Wednesday afternoon preceding the tournament.

“It’s professionals only on the top eight holes on the course,” he said.

“It’s played as a two- man ambrose, which gives the professionals a chance to have a look at the course. But because of the format, playing as a team, they throw caution to the wind and play some really aggressive golf.

“It’s great to watch.”

More than 100 people have already entered.

Van der Veen said the field would be capped at a maximum of 96 starts in each of the two shotgun starts on Thursday, December 12.

Entries are available at the Albury golf course pro shop and they close this Monday, unless the cap of 96 is reached earlier.