In 2015 we witnessed rising stars Su Oh and Todd Sinnott make their professional debuts at the Oates Vic Open.

This year we will see them return with a year of experience under their belt determined to engrave their names on their home State open trophies.

The tournament’s tagline ‘where stars are born’ rings true for so many of the tournament’s young contenders. After finishing in second place last year, Oh went on to win the RACV Ladies Masters the following week while Sinnott impressed both at home and in Europe after catching the eye of renowned player manager Chubby Chandler. Sinnott’s rookie year was highlighted by a T8 finish at the Emirates Australian Open in November where he played alongside Ryder Cup Captain Darren Clarke.

Another lady whose professional career launched after the Oates Vic Open is West Australian Minjee Lee. Lee won the tournament in 2014 as an amateur and has since taken the professional world by storm recording seven top 10 finishes on the LPGA Tour in 2015 including winning the Kingsmill Championship in May.

This year, there will be another rising star choosing to play the Oates Vic Open as his debut tournament as a professional. After taking up the sport later in life than most top amateurs at age 15, Irish ace Cormac Sharvin quickly caught up with his competition, achieving a scratch handicap within two years.

In 2015 Sharvin’s amateur achievements soared. He finished third at the Scottish Open Stroke Play Championship as well as runner-up in the Lytham Trophy and Irish Open Amateur. However, it was a win at the Brabazon Trophy which lead to his peak achievement, a 100%-win record during the Walker Cup where Great Britain and Ireland recorded their most emphatic win in history.

Ranked 17 in the world as an amateur, Sharvin is now itching to make his mark as a professional.

"I am really excited to be turning professional and to announce my first event will be the 2016 Oates Vic Open. I have heard the tournament has supported younger players in the past and I am hopeful that I can live up to the tournaments tagline of ‘where stars are born" said Sharvin.

The event will be played 4-7 February at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links.