Australia’s Lucas Herbert completed his ISPS Handa Vic Open preparations with a closing 68 at the Saudi International before winging to Barwon Heads on the Victorian west coast for this week’s event.

Herbert, who finished tied-27th overall behind Northern Ireland’s Graham McDowell, was the best-placed Australian in the field.

He will also be the highest-ranked Australian in the field (at No. 79 last week) for the men’s Vic Open, starting at 13th Beach golf links on Thursday, having won his first-ever tournament as a professional – the Dubai Desert Classic – the week before.

He finished tied-37th in the Vic Open last year.

Three other young Australians – Min Woo Lee, David Micheluzzi and Maverick Antcliff – also are flying home from Saudi Arabia to play in the men’s Open this week on what is a co-sanctioned event between the European and Australasian Tours.

Players from around the world began gathering at 13th Beach today for this week’s unique mixed-field event, worth $3 million with equal prizemoney to men and women.

Meanwhile Australians Brett Drewitt, who closed with a 66, and Ryan Ruffels (70) both finished inside the top 20 in the Korn Ferry Tour's Panama Championship. Drewitt was tied-seventh and Ruffels tied-15th, the latter remaining inside the top 25 who will secure PGA Tour cards at the end of the year.