GED Furey is on course for an unfamiliar feeling this weekend. Not only is he in the strange position of having to qualify for the prestigious PGA Glenmuir Club Professional Championship - he's not even confident of reaching it.

It's a surprising prediction when you consider that Friday's north west qualifier is at St Anne's Old Links, where Furey qualified for the 1988 Open Championship.

But the Pleasington professional said: "I've hardly played any golf in the build-up to this. I'm not match-fit and I'm not prepared so I'm not expecting to get through.

"I didn't play much last year so I've had a quiet time of it. I've been concentrating on my duties as pro at the club such as coaching, running the shop and looking after members."

Furey would normally be considered a dead cert to be in the final 19 that go through to the 72-hole final at St Andrews Bay in August, but then again he wouldn't normally be required to go through qualifying.

He said: "I normally have exemption from qualifying for this and I've played in the final many times.

"It's probably the biggest tournament we play all year and if I was going to enter anything it would have to be this.

"I don't believe in being so under-prepared for a tournament because I think if you play you shouldn't just make up the numbers, you should be going to do well. But this is one tournament I felt I had to play in even though my prospects aren't good.

"It's such a good event I didn't want to miss it."

But given his previous experience at St Anne's, Furey knows one inspired round of golf could swing the odds in his favour.

He added: "You need a good game to play on that links course, which is why a lot of the other players should have an advantage over me. But I've done well there before and it only takes one good round.

"I can't see me playing like I used to when I used to dominate the region but I might not have to."

There are other local hopes at St Anne's on Friday, including Chorley's Mark Bradley, who is on the first group of three to tee off.

Furey's former Pleasington club mate Danny Lord, Clitheroe's John Twissell and Paul McEvoy of Burnley are also playing in the qualifier.

Lancashire interest also extends to Royal Lytham pro Scott Astin, who hit a course record 63 in last year's PGA Assistant Championship.

The final in mid-August will be played at the St Andrews Bay course, designed by Ryder Cup winning captain Sam Torrance, which is seven miles from the Home of Golf.

Incentive for the winner in Scotland is a tidy cheque for £10,000 plus an automatic place in the 2005 PGA Cup team to play the USA.