Strong field for Lakes Classic (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Strong field for Lakes Classic

9:37am Friday 5th September 2008 in Sport By Gazette Sports

JONATHAN Graham, who clocked up his first PGA North Region Order of Merit victory in The Rock at Matfen Hall last week, heads a formidable field of 58 professionals in the Hydro Hotel Lakes Classic Pro-am at Windermere this weekend (Sepember 6-7).

The 33-year-old from Silloth-on-Solway, who earned £5,000 for his efforts, will be up against many of the players in the chasing pack during the final round at the Northumberland club.

Among them are Andrew Barnett, from North Wales, who finished a shot behind him and the irrepressible David Shacklady, who has more than 200 assorted wins to his name. The Mossock Hall maestro, dubbed the region's Pro-am King, defends the Lakes title he claimed last season with a second-round 61.

Also expected to be in the thick of the action are Scott Barber, winner of the Leeds Cup from Wakefield club Waterton Park, and Automatic Retailing PGA North Region champion Alex Belt, from Bridlington Links.

Local hopes include host club professional Stephen Rooke, Peter Scott (Kendal), Paul Jenkinson and Andrew Pickering (both Penrith DR), David Turner (Carus Green) and Stephen Tunnicliffe (Grange-over-Sands).