In recent years visitors have claimed the spoils in the two-day, 36-hole event, with Bathurst’s finest relegated to the minor placings.

But with injury ruling out seven-times Bathurst Open winner Robert Payne – a member of Orange’s Duntryleague Club – the 2016 edition shapes as a more open affair.

Bathurst Golf Club secretary-manager Brad Constable feels that Hodson, along with fellow home course player Dylan Thompson, is now a strong chance.

“Payney, he’s just one of those blokes, he’s made to win. You name any open in the Central West and he’s 99.9 percent sure to have his name on it,” Constable said.

“For sure I’d love to see someone from Bathurst win. It has sort of thrown me a bit with Payney not playing, he is your go to man for thinking who is going to win.

“Definitely Reece would be a massive chance and Dylan, he came back from America having played in the college system, so he would be a big chance too.”

Ben Cummings, who has been the best placed local the last two years, will return for another bid this weekend. Constable has nominated other Bathurst players as a chance as well.

“Benny has only just rejoined in the last week, so whether he has got enough match practice is yet to be determined, but he is a class golfer,” Constable said.

“Darrell Bourke is a former winner, Darryn Bruce, he’s one of the form A grade golfers, there’s David Lilly – he’s a low marker and on his day he can shoot the lights out as well.”

Of the visitors, Constable rates three-times Bathurst Open winner Andy Campbell as the biggest threat. 

The Duntryleague member last won the open crown in 2014.

“Andy would be a big show for sure. I think the only thing going against the Orange guys at the moment is a lack of match practice, we’ve had ridiculous amount of people coming down from there to play because they haven’t been able to get on.

“When they have got on, their par-fours have been turned into par-threes. It has been horrendous for them.”