Kilmarnock (Barassie) is to stage this year's qualifier for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
The two-round event, supported by Aberdeen Asset Management and VisitScotland, takes place on July 8 and 9 and will see four players secure spots in the $7 million Rolex Series event at neighbouring Dundonald Links the following week.
A prize fund of £30,000 will also be up for grabs as Kilmarnock (Barassie) becomes the third venue after North Berwick and Moray to stage the exciting shoot-out.
"The two Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open qualifiers so far have been a great success and we are looking forward to building on that when the event is held this year at Kilmarnock (Barassie)," said PGA in Scotland secretary Shona Malcolm.
"We are fortunate to be staging the event once again at one of Scotland’s top links courses and will continue to do so."
Kent-based Scot Craig Sutherland won the inaugural event at North Berwick in 2015 while Ayrshireman Jack Doherty came out on top in Lossiemouth last year before going on to secure a top-50 finish at Castle Stuart.
"Aberdeen is pleased to offer four up-and-coming Scottish golfers the chance to play in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open through this qualifying event at the fantastic Kilmarnock Golf Club," said Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management.
"Together with this qualifying, the main event and the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies’ Scottish Open taking place at Dundonald Links at the end of July, it’s going to be a fantastic month of golf on the Ayrshire coast.”
The Ayrshire course has a long history of hosting top events, including final qualifying for the Open Championship.
It has also staged the Boys' Amateur Championship on no less than six occasions, most recently in 2010, when Spaniard Adrian Otaegui lifted the title.
Paul Bush, Director of Events, VisitScotland, said: "Giving golfers the chance to qualify to play in their national open is a terrific opportunity and a great example of the open and inclusive nature of golf in Scotland.
“It also allows us to showcase Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club, yet another wonderful links course in Scotland, the Home of Golf and one with a strong track record of hosting events.”
The criteria will be the exactly same as the first two years, with a field of 144 being made up of exempt PGA players plus others PGA members and assistant professionals that enter, assuming they have Scottish nationality under the PGA’s eligibility requirements or are currently employed at a golf club in Scotland.
A number of amateurs will again be nominated by Scottish Golf while some sponsor’s invitations will also be issued.
