Berkshire Trophy To Switch Dates

The Berkshire Trophy will switch for the next four years from its traditional mid-May slot on the amateur golfing calendar to June in order to end its clash of dates with the Lytham Trophy.

In recent years, these two leading 72-hole trokeplay events have been played on the same weekend in May. Colonel John Hunt, secretary of host club The Berkshire, admits that changing the date has not met with the approval of the English Golf Union, but claims it should attract more international-class amateurs to one of England's longest established championships.

"We have decided to deconflict with Lytham to restore the tournament's
identity as a first-class amateur event," said Colonel Hunt.

But the date change means that there will now be a clash with some of
the county championships around the country.

Bob Stewart, president of Berks, Bucks and Oxon, said: "We are going to
continue with our dates for next year's county championships. I feel sad
and disappointed that certain players in our county will be in an
invidious position."

But Walker Cup player Gary Wolstenholme said: "I go every year to The
Berkshire because I think it is a fantastic venue. You only have to look
at the honours board to see who was won the event - legends like Nick
Faldo, Sandy Lyle and Michael Bonallack. That says a lot about the
history of this event and that is why I play every year."

The Berkshire Trophy dates for the next four years are: 2002: June
15-16; 2003: June 14-15; 2004: June 12-13; 2005: June 11-12.
For entry forms for this year's Berkshire Trophy, call 01344-621495