Walters finished just one shot off the pace behind Scott Laycock in the two-day event last year – shooting a 69 at Midlands and 70 on the Ballarat lay-out.

This year’s event will again comprise pro-ams at Midlands on Saturday and Ballarat on Sunday. Each is worth $11,000.

Walters is sitting ninth on the Australian pro-am order of merit. He will partner last year’s Ballarat pro-am winner John Wade and the in-form Clint Rice at Midlands.

Last year’s Midlands winner Luke Hickman will defend his title. He has again been in form, having taken out the Launceston Pro-Am earlier this year to be fourth in the pro-am order of merit.

Hickman will also be among the last groups to start their round in the $11,000 Midlands event.

Rice is returning to the mainland after a successful stint in Tasmania, where he was in a three-way tie at the top the leaders’ board in the Port Sorell Pro-Am after joint seconds at Ulverstone and Prospect Vale, and third at Launceston.

While the professionals will contest a stroke event, amateurs will play Stableford with shotgun starts at 7.30am and 12.30pm each day.