TIME is running out for amateur golfers from the North-East and North Yorkshire to register for a chance to fight it out to be crowned the best in the region.

Rockliffe Hall Golf Club’s inaugural Northern Golf Masters competition has received such a high volume of applications that the club is now holding qualification events on Sunday, August 5 and Sunday, August 12.

Registration closes at midnight on Monday, April 30.

Hundreds have already applied to take part in the Northern Golf Masters, so 20 more qualifying places have been made available.

People can register at rockliffehall.com/golf Entry to the qualifiers is free and is for category 1 golfers with a handicap of five or better. Around 30 more hopefuls have applied to enter the qualifiers so far.

The tournament itself will become an annual event and takes place on Sunday, August 19 at Rockliffe Hall.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place and the event is already attracting key sponsors.

Practice rounds are available for anyone confirmed as participating at the members’ guest rate of £30 per person. If accompanied by three guests to make up a four ball, one place will be complimentary. To book, contact the Pro Shop on 01325 729980.

Rockliffe pro Graeme Storm yesterday shot an opening round, level par 72 in the Ballantine’s Championship in Icheon, South Korea.

Three birdies were cancelled out by three bogies and he sits in 18th spot.

Victor Dubuisson held a two-shot lead at the end of the opening day. The Frenchman recovered from a double bogey on the par-four fourth to mix eight birdies with two bogeys in a round of 68.

That left Dubuisson on four under, two ahead of a group of five players which includes Paul Casey and Mark Foster.