The 36-hole tournament is one of 20 qualification events for the Ivo Whitton Trophy which is awarded to the amateur player with the best average score in Victoria.

Reigning Horsham Golf Club champion Josh Dossett and 2006 Junior Ivo Whitton champion Anthony Smith will tee up on Sunday.

Heath Jaensch, Levi Burns, Allen Kemp, Scott Boschen and Greg Magor are also expected to represent the Wimmera.

Tournament secretary Peter Fechner said the tournament would produce the highest standard of Wimmera golf.

"There are four or five players in the field who want to play professional golf," Fechner said.

"Some of the past winners of the Ivo Whitton Trophy are now playing in the United States and Europe.

"We have 17 players in the field who play from scratch."

Fechner said a full field of 84 players would play.

"We have never had a full field before. We have actually had to knock players back from entering this year," he said.

"Players have to have a low handicap to get into the tournament. Most of the players have a handicap of between four and scratch."

Club champion Josh Dossett said the tournament had always challenged him.

"It is pretty high up there in terms of the standard of play. All the top amateur players come from around Victoria. You play against blokes who play off plus one or plus two. Playing against better players makes me lift my game," Dossett said.

"I want to play to my handicap. Hopefully, I will be selected in the Wimmera team for Country Week in Melbourne later in the year."

Defending Horsham open amateur tournament champion Ashley Umbers of Rich River will return this year.

Fechner said visiting players loved the chance to play on Horsham's short par four holes.

"We have players who hit the ball 300 metres or more. One of our par four holes is only about 320 metres, so there is a lot of risk and plenty of reward for the big hitters. Some of them told me Horsham has the best collection of short par fours in the state," he said.

•Round one of the open tournament tees off at 7.30am on Sunday with round two at 11.45am. Admission is free.