DOWNING DEFENDS THE LOGAN TROPHY
AT LINDRICK

Barry Downing will defend the English Men's Open Mid-Amateur Championship when he takes on the rest of a quality 120-strong field in the English Open Mid-Amateur Championship at Lindrick Golf Club, Yorkshire, on 24-26 August.

The Hallamshire golfer, who also holds the European Mid-Amateur title following his victory in Turkey in June, will need to be on top form if he is to retain the Logan Trophy against one of the strongest line-ups yet assembled for the 54-hole event.

Downing denied Stephen East (Moortown) a title hat-trick when he won the Championship last year at Ponteland. East, the champion in 1998 and '99, finished second, six strokes behind, with another Yorkshireman, Roger Roper (Catterick), a stroke further back in third.

East and Roper, a former England international, are again in the field as is another former winner, Charlie Banks (Stanton-on-the-Wolds), who already has three Logan trophy success under his belt. He is likely to play a major part again, having won in 1995 at Seacroft, 1996 at Pannal, and 1997 at Stockport.

The field is further boosted by a host of players who regularly compete in the English Seniors Championship. Top of the list is David Lane (Goring and Streatley), British Seniors champion in 1998, English Seniors champion in 1999 and runner-up in 2000, and second in the Logan in 1999 behind East.

He would love to add the Mid-Amateur to his growing collection of titles, as would Jon Marks (Woodbridge), English Seniors champion in 1998. Another Seniors winner, Graham Steel (Moor Park) is also competing, as is Derek McJannet, who helped Coxmoor win the Champion Club tournament last year.

Add the likes of Clive Skinns (Lincoln), father of current international David Skinns, Iain Mackenzie (Hallamshire), brother of tour pro Malcolm Mackenzie, and Gilbert Scoular (Cosby), former captain of Leicestershire, and the Championship's quality is underlined.

Play starts at 8am on 24 August and there will be a cut after 36 holes, the leading 45 players and ties going forward to the final 18 holes.