Parry accepted an invitation in mid-December to contest the tournament, but there had been growing concerns a course design project he is working on might force him to withdraw.

Parry is overseeing the redevelopment of Elenora Country Club north of Sydney.

“With all the design work that I have been doing I wasn’t sure that I would be able to make it to Ballarat,” he said yesterday.

He said he had been able to get things under control with the development to allow him to play in the second event on the Australasian PGA Tour for the year.

Parry, along with the likes of Peter O’Malley and Andre Stolz, has been billed as a major drawcard for what will be the first of five Victorian PGA Championships at Creswick.

“I am very pleased that I have been able to fit the Vic PGA into my schedule,” Parry said.

“From all that I have heard it is certain to be a great event,” said Parry, who is one of the veterans of the Australasian PGA Tour and has scaled back his international playing schedule.

This is the first time in 26 years the event will be played in regional Victoria.

“It’s fantastic when the tour heads to the country. The courses are always top quality and the people so friendly and welcoming.

“Hopefully we have some good galleries following us. I know all of the boys on tour really appreciate the crowd support,” Parry said.

The Adroit Insurance Group Victorian PGA Championship will be played over 72 holes from Thursday.

PRE-QUALIFYING DRAW

FIRST TEE

7.30am: Michael Choi, Tim Hart, Ashley Umbers

7.40: Michael Freake, Kevin Conlong, Benjamin Patten

7.50: Brenton Fowler, Shane Butler, Glenn Joyner

8.00: Paul Williamson, Leigh Stephenson, Cameron Grant

8.10: David Klein, Mitch Davis, Andrew Kostarakis

8.20: BJ Chatham, Daniel Griffin, Joshua Lancaster

8.30: Bernie Reiter, Raffael Toperoso, Ryan Fowler