The accent may be decidedly home counties but there's no denying where home is for the well-travelled Craig Sutherland.

"I promise you I am Scottish," said the Kent-based professional after clinching his place in this week's Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open through the 36-hole qualifier at North Berwick last night.

Born and bred on the Orkney Islands, Sutherland ventured south to pursue his golfing career. It's been a long journey but the road has finally led him to a major European Tour event for the first time in his career. A closing seven-under 64, for a 12-under 130, gave him one of the five qualifying places on offer for this week's domestic showpiece. Sutherland shared top spot with Edinburgh-based Welshman Gareth Wright and, in this event within an event, the duo played off for the first prize of £7,500. Sutherland won it with a 20-footer for birdie on the first extra hole to take the bounty. Now, he gets to rub shoulders with McIlroy, Mickelson and company while competing for a chunk of a £3.25 million treasure chest along the A198 at Gullane. The fact he will celebrate his 37th birthday on the first day of the championship will only heighten the sense of anticipation.

Wright, who holed his tee-shot on the short fourth, will join Sutherland in the field along with Graham Fox, Greig Hutcheon and local amateur, Calum Hill, who showed great poise and composure to claim the final qualifying place.

"This was the round of my life," added Sutherland, who made a telling thrust with three birdies in a row from the ninth before making further gains on three of his last five holes. "I've not had a bogey in 36-holes and that's something I've never done in my career."

Sutherland played full-time on a variety of tours between 2001 and 2006 before taking up a post as head pro at the Cherry Lodge club in Kent. "I'm now giving full-time golf another shot as I've been fortunate to get sponsorship for two years," he said. "I've been up here in Scotland for 16 days now, doing Open qualifying and playing in two EuroPro Tour events. Now I've got another week here. My girlfriend won't be impressed."

She will be with a few grand tucked in the bank, though. In a field full of Tartan Tour stalwarts and former European Tour players, Tantallon amateur Hill, who lives just 500 yards from the North Berwick links, held it together in front of a sizeable home support and his closing 68 for a 132 was enough to ensure a European Tour debut. "I think I'll need a few guest passes," said the 19-year-old, who made sure he took two-putts from 15-feet on the last to safeguard a decisive par.

Wright, who came through a qualifier at North Berwick for the Open at Muirfield two years ago, enjoyed another successful campaign in this neck of the woods. Despite losing to Sutherland in the play-off for the first prize, it was very much mission accomplished for the former Scottish PGA champion. "The play-off was a bonus, the biggest goal was to make the Scottish Open," said Wright, who is a regular at Gullane during the winter and is on the waiting list for membership.

Hutcheon, who was level-par through 10 holes of his first round on Saturday but ignited his bid with a sizzling inward half of 29, once again demonstrated his qualities and competitive instinct as he closed with a 66 for a 131 to tee-up a sixth Scottish Open appearance. "I'll never be a superstar but I was paired with Martin Laird and Ryan Palmer, two PGA Tour players, during the 2013 Scottish Open and I beat them both," reflected the former European Tour campaigner. "Those are the kind of opportunities you savour."

Fox, the Scottish PGA champion in 2012, bolstered his push with an eagle on the par-5 eighth where he holed a putt of 35-feet for a three. His 66 left him alongside Hutcheon on an 11-under tally. "It looks like I'll have to cancel a few of my lessons over the next few days," said the teaching professional ahead of his own examination among some of the world's best.