JOHN Twissell stared into his crystal ball this week and predicted a bright future for his shop assistant Daniel Preedy.

Preedy is one of three assistant's who help out in the Clitheroe pro shop and Twissell is tipping the Lancashire B team player for big things, starting with the Lancashire Amateur Championships at Ormskirk tomorrow.

"I think Daniel could have a big future on the amateur scene but there are a lot of lads at it," said Twissell.

"This weekend would be a great time for him to do it.

"He likes Ormskirk and, from what he's told me after he went there for a practice round recently, it's in great nick.

"It's a good test of a golfer and it's fairly similar to Clitheroe so that should stand him in good stead.

"But it's the type of course where the cream will certainly come to the top over four rounds."

It's been a busy season for Twissell and his staff so far.

In February, Paul McEvoy passed his second year PGA exams, with an overall pass rate of 98 per cent, and he's confident of passing his finals. Preedy is competing in Northern Order of Merit competitions as well as local events.

And James Webster starts his PGA apprenticeship at the end of May after deciding to enter the professional ranks following an impressive season in 1998.

Twissell, himself, won the West Lancs Alliance in April and has also qualified for the British Club Professionals Championship at Kings Lynn in June and the Leeds Cup in July.

But the 37-year-old is also enjoying playing Clitheroe's revamped course, which has undergone a face-lift during the winter.

"We've got a new fourth green and the 17th has been reshaped which has certainly improved the course," said Twissell, who joined the club in 1991.

"It's now one of the best in Lancashire and it's in excellent shape at the moment."

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