TOP Blackburn amateur Anthony Harwood is hoping it will be third time lucky for him at the Lancashire Amateur Championships this weekend.

Harwood, along with a host of ELGA's top amateurs, will begin his quest for the county's top prize at Fairhaven tomorrow.

There will be rounds of 18 holes tomorrow and Saturday before the top 40 go through to a 36-hole final day on Sunday.

"I have played in it twice before," said the 20-year-old, who works in the club shop at Blackburn.

"The first time at West Lancs it was a difficult course but I made the cut and finished about half way overall.

"Last year at Manchester I played well and finished 10th, I was really pleased with that."

This year he faces stiff competition from the man who beat him in the semi-final of last year's Harold Ryden Trophy, Nelson's Craig Fort, as well as the winner of last year's contest, Burnley's Michael Hunt.

Pleasington's Andy White, who also reached the semi-finals of last year's Harold Ryden, is also in the frame but with a handicap of plus four, England's Richard Walker will be the man to beat.

Harwood, who plays off a handicap of one, says he is just hoping to hold his own.

"I just want to play well and enjoy it. Obviously I want to get in the top 40 and make the cut and if things go well finish as high as possible.

"I have played the course before. I played in the Silver Pheasant, their Northern Order of Merit event, and I have played a practice round there.

"I thought it was in good condition but there are a lot of bunkers that will have to be avoided."

The Lancashire Amateur is the first competition Harwood will play in this summer and may be the biggest of the season.

"It is probably the biggest one I will play in this year and the biggest one since the Harold Ryden last year I suppose.

"I only played in club competitions last year, I won the scratch medal at Blackburn but haven't played much at all this year.

"So I am not expecting too much but hopesfully I'll do better than the previous two years."

EAST LANCASHIRE ENTRIES: Tony Holt (handicap 2) Wilpshire; Andy Westwell (1) Pleasington; G Mitton (3) Accrington; C Williams (3) Pleasington; R Beecham (3) Nelson; S Ainscough (scr) Chorley; A White (scr) Pleasington; N Uttley (1) Nelson; C Fort (scr) Nelson; A Flanagan (scr) Nelson; D Wilson (4) Burnley; G Blades (3) Burnley; R Kilshaw (1) Chorley; I Short (2) Nelson; A Wilson (3) Burnley; D Nutter (3) Nelson; N Slade (Pleasington) 1; J Reed (1) Blackburn; N Ward (1) Pleasington; S Duerden (4) Nelson; A Harwood (1) Blackburn; M Hunt (+2) Burnley; D Belch (scr) Pleasington; A Siddle (scr) Rossendale; W Bromilow (2) Chorley; D Hollingworth (1) Darwen; M Whittaker (1) Rossendale; M Brooks (1) Blackburn; M Hartley (1) Blackburn; M Ashworth (1) Clitheroe; G Morton (3) Rossendale; C Hopwood (1) Burnley; D Hemingway (2) Wilpshire; A Fait (3) Chorley; M Barratt (4) Pleasington.