NICK Dougherty has pulled out of the Sunningdale Foursomes, which starts today, just two days after his best ever finish on the European Tour.

The 19-year-old Shaw Hill pro was to take part in the prestigious amateur competition at Sunningdale partnering Mark Pilkington but yesterday pulled out, as did fellow European Tour pro Justin Rose and former Walker Cup team mate Gary Wolstenholme.

But East Lancashire is well represented in the tournament with married Clitheroe duo Kim and Stuart Andrew, Burnley's Michael Hunt and Rossendale's Ashley Siddle all taking part.

Hunt, whose Portuguese Amateur Open ended in disappointment last week after the second round was abandoned due to rain, will partner Northern Order of Merit champion Ken Hudson.

Siddle will partner Rossendale club mate Mike Whitaker.

Dougherty, who finished joint second at the Qatar Masters over the weekend, is taking a few days off as he prepares for the Madeira Island Open, which starts on Thursday.

He bagged around £100,000 from his second place finish taking his total earnings for the season to around £120,000 and boosting his Volve Order of Merit position to an impressive 10th - all in his first season as a pro.

He said after the final round in Qatar that he thought he could do even better and that he wasn't out there simply feeling his way, he was out there to play some serious golf.

"I have the belief that I can win, I believed that if I played great on Sunday I could catch Adam (Scott, the leader after the third round and the eventual winner).

"That's good for me. I feel my game has improved a lot and if I feel under pressure on the last day I can go out there and throw in a low number that can win a golf tournament.

"I've learnt a hell of a lot these last few weeks, my swing has come on heaps. I did loads of great work in Dubai with Pete Cowen (Dougherty's coach) and the only difference this week was that my putter was working solid again and I made the ones I'm supposed to.

"Sunday was awesome. It's a wicked feeling walking up the last and hitting two good shots on there, because it's not a great hole to play the first time you're up there. It was a great test and I think I stood up to it reasonably well."

And Scott reckons Dougherty will soon follow him into the winner's circle after the teenager's impressive display in the Qatar Masters.

Scott claimed his second European Tour title in Doha with a commanding six-shot victory over Dougherty and Frenchman Jean-Francois Remesy.

The performance of Dougherty was eye-catching as he carded four rounds under 70 to win more than £90,000, taking his season's earnings over £133,000 and securing his card for next season just months after battling through the qualifying school in November.

"He is a physically strong person and is typical of the young players coming through," said Scott. "I don't think there is any reason why he shouldn't be winning out here in the near future."