PAUL Eales has an old score to settle in the James Brearley Lancashire Open at Blackpool North Shore next week (Aug 16-17) – he’s been waiting 10 years to achieve it!
The Challenge Tour player lost out to Ged Furey in 2000 in the first event sponsored by the local stockbrokers and nothing would please him more than to claim the title at the end of the decade.
But he will need no reminding that his task will be much tougher now that the 36-hole tournament has been upgraded from county to full PGA North Region status for the first time.
A 144-strong field pursuing a £10,000 prize-fund includes seven former winners with Barry Taylor, from St Helens club Houghwood, looking for a third victory after his success last year and in 2007.
Mossock Hall’s David Shacklady pulled off a hat-trick of victories from 2003 and a strong performance in last week’s Spirotech Manchester Open suggests he’s ready to edge closer to the record five established by Pleasington professional Furey before his playing career was brough to an untimely end.
This is the fifth of eight Order of Merit events and a win for second-placed Shacklady could close the gap or even help him to overtake leader Steve Parry.
The Bolton man, who runs his own golf school at Hart Common, is158 points ahead and is also on a hot run following his victory in last month’s Pokerstars Manx Classic.
Other players to watch are Simon Robinson from North East club Wynyard who impressed in the Manchester Open; PGA Cup star Will Barnes, who works with Eales at his Garstang academy; Vale Royal Abbey assistant Paul Grannell, winner of the inaugural Phoenix Gas Classic at Wychwood Park, and big-hitting Alex Belt, from Bridlington.
The 36-hole tournament will be followed by a pro-am.
The Challenge Tour player lost out to Ged Furey in 2000 in the first event sponsored by the local stockbrokers and nothing would please him more than to claim the title at the end of the decade.
But he will need no reminding that his task will be much tougher now that the 36-hole tournament has been upgraded from county to full PGA North Region status for the first time.
A 144-strong field pursuing a £10,000 prize-fund includes seven former winners with Barry Taylor, from St Helens club Houghwood, looking for a third victory after his success last year and in 2007.
Mossock Hall’s David Shacklady pulled off a hat-trick of victories from 2003 and a strong performance in last week’s Spirotech Manchester Open suggests he’s ready to edge closer to the record five established by Pleasington professional Furey before his playing career was brough to an untimely end.
This is the fifth of eight Order of Merit events and a win for second-placed Shacklady could close the gap or even help him to overtake leader Steve Parry.
The Bolton man, who runs his own golf school at Hart Common, is158 points ahead and is also on a hot run following his victory in last month’s Pokerstars Manx Classic.
Other players to watch are Simon Robinson from North East club Wynyard who impressed in the Manchester Open; PGA Cup star Will Barnes, who works with Eales at his Garstang academy; Vale Royal Abbey assistant Paul Grannell, winner of the inaugural Phoenix Gas Classic at Wychwood Park, and big-hitting Alex Belt, from Bridlington.
The 36-hole tournament will be followed by a pro-am.
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