GOLFERS from across the region are being encouraged to enter the fourth North of England Amateur Strokeplay Championship.

It is expected to attract a full field of high quality golfers from around the country and will be held at Alwoodley, on the outskirts of Leeds, from the September 27-19.

Prospects for this year’s event are once again very bright following the success of the last two years when the championship was won by England elite squad golfer, Adam Chapman from Windermere Golf Club.

This 72 holes event is limited to a total field of 117 competitors. They will play 18 holes on each of the first two days and those with the 32 lowest scores and ties will then play a further 36 holes on the last day.

There is handicap limit of 1.4 and the entry fee for the event is £60.

The North of England Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship has the backing of England Golf, will be eligible for World Amateur Golf Ranking Points and is the last counting event of the season towards the Titleist Footjoy Order of Merit.

To download an entry form, enter on line or review the conditions of entry for this championship, go to the NCGU website.

Any additional enquiries should be made to the Championship Chairman Dennis Trickett whose contact details are on the NCGU website.

HARTLEPOOL’S Alex Robertson and South Moor’s Abbi Wheatley have claimed places in the national finals courtesy of their big hitting.

Robertson has progressed through to the final of the American Golf Long Drive Championship – the UK qualifying event for the World Long Drive Championship.

Robertson had previously qualified for the regional finals of the nationwide Long Drive Championship with victory at the first round event held at his local American Golf store. Having won through to the regional final, he produced a fantastic display of power hitting that was enough to secure the regional title in the Open category.

He also received a Garmin S20 Approach GPS watch from the Championship sponsor along with entry to the blue riband final at High Legh Park Cheshire on August 19. At the final they will line up alongside nine regional winners and last year’s champions under the spotlight of Sky Sports’ cameras.

Wheatley has made it through to the UK & Ireland Grand Final of the American Golf Junior Championship after a closely fought qualifying competition at Playsport Golf near Glasgow. Abbi takes a place at Gainsborough Golf Club to battle it out for the title of the best Junior golfer in the UK & Ireland.

Abbi qualified with a win in the girls category with a fantastic round of 84 (net 65). The County Durham youngster, who plays off 19, will now join qualifiers from events all over the UK.