One-hundred-and-seventeen professionals will compete in the four day competition.

With the best of Australia’s rookie professionals on show, the event will feature an impressive field including defending champion Damon Welsford and a man on a mission Brent McCullough.

Having taken out the 2007 title at Coffs Harbour Golf Club by one stroke Welsford heads to Hawks Nest having reduced his playing schedule from last year.

However if he is to win back to back titles, Welsford will have to overcome not only a different layout from that he played in 2007, but also a formidable challenger in McCullough who is endeavouring to create Australian PGA history.

McCullough, a trainee professional at Pymble Golf Club, already holds two 2008 state Trainee titles in the Victorian and Queensland Trainee Championships and will be hoping to claim the three-peat come the end of Thursday’s final round.

“I’ve been playing well but it is a very competitive field,” McCullough said.

“Depending on the conditions I think the scoring could be low, and it would not surprise me to see a score of 12-under or better win.”

With $35,000 in prize money on offer the NSW ACT trainee championship is one of the richest events on the PGA of Australia’s trainee calendar with thanks to the support from local and state based sponsors including co-naming right sponsors Mazda and Hawks Nest First National Real Estate.

The competition will finish today with an award ceremony to be held this afternoon.