One of Australia’s brightest golfing talents is set to launch their career at the Fiji International.

20-year-old Antonio Murdaca will walk the fairways of Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course competing as a Professional for the very first time.

Making the transition to the Professional ranks today, Murdaca has closed the chapter on a highly successful amateur career.

Murdaca first showed his prodigious talent at the 2013 Emirates Australian Open; playing alongside Robert Allenby he fired an impressive 6-under 66 in the third round.

But it was in 2014 that the South Australian established a name for himself around the world, gaining attention for winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne.

This win earned him a ticket to the hallowed grounds of Augusta National where this year he graced the fairways with the world’s best at the year’s first Major Championship, The MastersTournament.

Murdaca competed alongside big hitting American Dustin Johnson and fellow Australian Adam Scott, who coincidentally along with Murdaca are two of three players to have won Australia’s national junior championship twice.

Having experienced so much success as an amateur, Murdaca believed the time was ripe in his career to become a Tour Professional.

"After a long and successful amateur career, I feel it’stime to make the next step," Murdaca said.

"I am ready to turn professional and start the next leg of my ongoing golf journey. I am super excited to start in Fiji and can’t wait to see what the future holds for me."

Having been offered a tournament invite to compete in the AU$1.125million Fiji International, the talented Murdaca could be set for a big pay day in his first event as a Professional.

"We have already seen in his forays into professional tournaments as an amateur that Antonio is an extremely talented player," said Simon Butterly, General Manager – Tournament Division for the PGA of Australia.

"Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course can be a demanding layout, however if Antonio’s game is sharp I am confident he will finish high up the leaderboard, banking a significant first cheque as a Professional whilst also providing fans with exciting golf to watch."

Murdaca is the latest Australian young gun to join the PGA Tour of Australasia.

Other recently turned Professionals teeing it up in the Fiji International are Jordan Zunic who won the BMW New Zealand Open in jus this third tournament as a Pro as well as Todd Sinnott and Geoff Drakeford who have been competing in Europe this year.

"Antonio will join a talented crop of young players as the next generation of Australian Tour Professionals. I look forward towatching him grow as a player on the PGA Tour of Australasia and establishing along and successful career, starting at next week’s Fiji International," added Butterly.

The Fiji International will be played at Natadola BayChampionship Golf Course from 15-18 October.