Part of the Golf NSW Regional Open Series leading up to the $400,000 NSW Open at Concord Golf Club next month, the North Coast Open has attracted a field laden with talent, adidas PGA Pro-Am Series winners Deyen Lawson, Daniel Gale, Brett Rankin, Sam Brazel and Brady Watt among the leading contenders.

Playing alongside Brazel and amateur Conor Whitelock in Tuesday’s opening round, Perry is another of the fancied chances and has the memories of a Coffs Harbour victory to call upon.

The field for the 2012 Jack Newton Junior Subaru State Age Championship included now established professionals Cam Davis, Blake Windred, Travis Smyth and Harrison Endycott yet it was Perry who returned to Newcastle with the oversized trophy and a sense of belief that professional golf was a career option worth pursuing.

“I was 15 or 16 at the time. I was going around today trying to remember it all but there were only two holes that clicked into my mind,” Perry said after Monday’s pro-am.

“That was 10 years ago now but it unlocks that next chapter and you think, Let’s see how far we can actually go with this.

“I went home with a massive trophy and at the time it was the biggest thing that I’d won at the age I was at so it was a pretty cool thing.”

Since turning professional in 2018 that first win has proved elusive, a tie for third at the 2018 NSW Open an indicator that a win would come sooner rather than later.

He topped PGA Tour of Australasia qualifying at the end of 2018 to secure his immediate playing future but Perry doesn’t consider that a tournament victory on his resume.

He has seen first-hand the confidence that two-time ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia Anthony Quayle has taken from his tournament wins and is eyeing off more Coffs Harbour silverware to kick-start his 2022 season in Japan.

“I don’t want to be going back to Japan flat-footed,” explained Perry, who finished 66th on the elongated Japan Golf Tour moneylist in 2021.

“I definitely look at this week as one where if I play well I can definitely win.

“I play with ‘Quayley’ day in and day out and I’d like to think we’re of equal ability. It’s just the momentum and confidence you get from winning a tournament.

“Winning is hard, especially at the pro level, and when Quayley won he said it was that extra confidence you get from showing that you can do it.

“I look at guys like Quayley and Jed (Morgan) and I know I can do this, it’s just getting it all to come together at the right time.”

Tied for 22nd at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship, Perry skipped the past two events as his partner Brittany gets closer and closer to the due date for their first child.

Given it is only a three-hour drive back home Perry felt comfortable making the trip to Coffs Harbour and is excited by what fatherhood will soon bring.

“Obviously it’s going to be different and my perspective on life will change, which will probably be a good thing.

“At the end of the day it’s not all about golf, it’s family so I think it will be really good.”

First groups tee off at 7.15am AEDT Tuesday with the 36-hole tournament to conclude on Wednesday.