66 PGA Professionals gather at Cranbourne Golf Club for the Victorian qualifier for the PGA Professionals Championship and the Victorian Club Professional Championship.

The day started with light showers forecast and they soon turn reasonably heavy while professionals battled to finish in the top-13 progress to the Championship Final on Hamilton Island in November.

There was a five-way tie for 11^th and therefore a playoff was required to determine the 13 players to qualify.

Matt Portelli and Craig McLean both progressed after the first playoff hole after birdieing the par-5 10^th

Elissa-Jayne Orr and Scott McDermott then had to play the par-4 9^th to decide the last place.

After the fairway to the right off the tee, Orr played the shot of the day, threading a fairway wood through the overhanging branches to finish 25 feet from the pin.  After finding the middle of the fairway, McDermott missed the green left.

Orr rolled her first putt to 2-feet and when McDermott left his par putt inches short Orr was able to clean up for her par and take the final spot.

Not all was lost for McDermott who hails from Settlers Run Golf and Country Club. He took out the Victorian Club Professional Championship with a 4-over 76.

Huntingdale’s Lisa Jean, along with Orr was the second female to progress to the championship at Hamilton Island.

Former ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia member Scott Laycock took finished in top spot in the PGA Professionals Championship Victorian qualifier.

This was Laycock’s first attempt at the title, he has previously been ineligible as a Tour Professional.

“Playing the Tour for over 23 years I was unable to play in this event, but now that I’m working full time at Pakenham Golf Club it was great to finally be able to play,” said Laycock.

“As most know, I don’t hit it too far these days but I was able to get it up and down today really well which was the key.

“The course today at Cranbourne was first-class and especially considering the weather we had this morning.”

This win also gives Laycock a start in the Victorian PGA Championship at RACV Cape Schanck in October.

Laycock finished on 2-under 70 and was a three-shot winner ahead of Zac Morwood and Brad Lamb who tied for second.