ALEX Belt attempts to become the first professional to successfully defend the PGA North Region Championship for nearly 40 years at Marriott Hollins Hall Golf and Country Club next week (Sept 29-30).

And if the Bridlington Links assistant continues the form that has swept him to two titles this season he’s every chance of emulating former Ryder Cup man Lionel Platts, the last player to achieve the double back in 1970-71.

Belt, 23, has already notched the Ryder Cup Wales 2010 Welsh Open Young PGA Professional Championship and North Region Assistants’ Tournament for the Harold Lees Trophy to he will take some stopping in the 36-hole tournament, sponsored by International freight forwarders Thomson Davis, which starts on Tuesday, a day after the pro-am.

One of his biggest threats is 31 years his senior - Ilkley-based Gordon Brand who has so far not repeated his 2008 success when he landed the De Vere Collection PGA Seniors’ Championship and the Travis Perkins Masters.

But he has the advantage of regularly practising at Hollins Hall so local knowledge could be a key factor.

Brand, a former Ryder Cup player, maintained his playing privileges on the PGA European Tour from 1977 to 1994 but perhaps his career highlight came when he was runner-up in the 1986 Open Championship at Turnberry, five strokes behind Greg Norman.

Before progressing to senior level, he tried his hand at refereeing, ran a car-washing business and played regularly in North Region events, winning the Leeds Cup in 1988.

Also expected to be in contention is Manchester Open champion Chris Hanson, who recently moved to Woodsome Hall; Leeds Cup winner Chris Clarke, a first year trainee assistant at Wath club Waterfront Golf, and Jonathan Lupton, from Close House near Newcastle, who recently claimed the Powerade PGA Assistants' Championship, in association with FootJoy.

Former European Tour professional Neil Cheetham, attached to Dore and Totley, leads the Order of Merit which will be decided at the end of the tournament.