To that add names such as Gillespie, Grant Moorhead, Doug Holloway, Ben Campbell, David Klein, Joshua Carmichael, Troy Ropiha and former Japan Tour professional Richard Lee.
"It's a good [field]. It's always good to have a local tournament that well supported," said Gillespie.
The 24-year-old has played only five rounds, including in Gisborne and Queensland, since pocketing $3000 for taking back-to-back Pakline-Autex Hastings Pro-Am titles in late March.
He scorched the final round at his former amateur Hastings Golf Club course at Bridge Pa, carding a 5-under 67 on the 18 holes, finishing with 8-under 136 in the $17,500 two-day annual golf tournament.
Ropiha, whom he will play next week, was a first-day leader and had to settle for third.
Gillespie's Wanganui parents, Lyn and former international cricketer father Stuart, were at the course to watch him achieve the memorable double.
Since then he has been putting in the practice rounds and feels like he is playing really well ahead of Muriwai, while also being able to see the folks at home about three weeks ago.
But while $3000 was nice to pocket in the Bay, he is not getting so cocky about the big prizemoney on offer next week.
"I'll just play it as it comes, do the best I can and hopefully it goes my way. If you start worrying about the cash, you're going to shoot yourself in the foot before you've begun."
After Muriwai, Gillespie will return to Wellington for a fortnight before travelling to another week-long tournament in Fiji.
