JASON Ashton is bang on course to retain the Harold Ryden Trophy after leaving the rest of the field in his rear view mirror in the qualifying rounds at Pleasington Golf Club, writes ANDY NEILD.
Ashton, a driver for competition sponsors the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, fired a two-round total of 142 to head the qualifiers going into today's matchplay stages.
The Blackburn member will face Nelson's Gary Blades in tonight's quarter final on the Pleasington course, bidding to keep hold of the showpiece title he won at Rossendale last year. Wilpshire's Anthony Holt was not far behind, three shots off the pace after scoring 145 over the two qualifying rounds.
His reward is a meeting with Pleasington's Andrew White, who shot 149, over his home course.
John Grimshaw, who currently leads the Northern Merit table, will take on his Darwen team mate Gary Phillipson in the last eight after the pair had two-round totals of 148.
In the other quarter final, Clitheroe's Daniel Preedy is set for a showdown with Nelson's Daniel Nutter.
Preedy was the third best qualifier after scoring 147, with Nutter two shots behind on 149.
The final is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at 5.30pm.
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