BURNLEY amateur Michael Hunt will be hoping to follow up this month's impressive quarter-final finish at the English Amateur Championship with a good performance at the Lancashire Open next week.

The 23-year-old former Harold Ryden champion will pit his wits against the professionals at the £10,000 James Brearley Lancashire Open at Blackpool North Shore - although he won't, of course, be eligible for any prize money.

Seven past winners peg up for the event including Pleasington's Ged Furey who has prevailed five times since 1991, the last occasion two years ago.

The oldest former champion is Bolton's Bob Longworth, who prevailed in 1984, and more recent winners include Haigh Hall's Craig Corrigan, Ashton-in-Makerfield's Peter Allan and Lytham Green Drive's Andrew Lancaster.

Many famous names have adorned the Lancashire Open trophy since its instigation in 1993 when the winner was Alex Caygill who played in the 1969 Ryder Cup.

The following year Ian Mosey, who went on to a successful Tour career, triumphed on the first of three occasions - a feat bettered only by Furey.

Andrew "Chubby" Chandler prevailed in 1976 and Denis Durnian five years later.

This is the third time the 36-hole tournament, preceded by a pro-am on Monday August 19 is being sponsored by Blackpool-based stockbrokers James Brearley & Son. They will continue their association for a further two years.