Reigning Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional champion Paul Hendriksen has set his sights on qualifying to play in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth next year.

Although several challenges face him along the way, he is already a favourite to finish in the top three in the PGA in England and Wales (South West) order of merit and qualify for the end-of-season Play-Offs as he leads at the halfway stage.

And he can consolidate his position next week in The Players Championship at Cumberwell Park, the third OOM fixture. The Ivybridge Golf Club player was second to amateur Ali James in the inaugural year when the club’s general manager and ex-Wiltshire captain became the shock winner in 2011.

He started this season by retaining the Total Triumph Classic at Oake Manor, was one of five players in a tie for fourth in the Dudsbury Masters and leads the money list.

Another highlight was helping Great Britain and Ireland win the PGA Cup in California in September. He said: “I have never played a European Tour event although I’ve come close so many times. That is why I play golf in the hope that one day I will get to Wentworth and play in front of thousands of people.”

He leads Liam Bond (Marriott St Pierre), twice a winner at Cumberwell, by 55 points. Dudsbury champion Ross Langdon (Brickhampton Court) is third followed by Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) and Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle).

Many leading PGA professionals in Wales and the West compete at the outstanding 45-hole Wiltshire complex near Bath in the strongest field for some time.

Hendriksen, Bond and defending champion Adam Frayne (Yelverton) play as the featured group on the opening day. Ross Whitelock (St Mellion), James Ruth (China Fleet) and Kevin Harper (East Devon) are another notable trio.

Current European Tour man David Dixon (Enmore Park) was a late entry and will add class to a quality field that also includes former PGA champion Scott Drummond from Plymouth and 2014 winner Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Club/Asbri Golf).

The 36-hole tournament is staged on Tuesday and Wednesday July 19-20. It is preceded on Monday by a pro-am, sponsored as usual by Lansdown Mazda, which has attracted 52 teams and will be played with a two two-tee start in both the morning and afternoon.

Tournament director Tom Sheffield said: “It is always a pleasure to go to Cumberwell Park where Ali James, director of golf John Jacobs and the staff make us so welcome. This is the biggest order of merit field so far this year and the record entry for the pro-am is testimony to the quality of a club rated the best venue we visit in the region.”