EAST FACES TOUGH DEFENCE OF THE LOGAN TROPHY

Stephen East (Moortown) will defend the Logan Trophy, the England Open Mid-Amateur Championship at Little Aston Golf Club, Birmingham on 20-22 August.

The Leeds man won the title, his first national success, when he beat Yorkshire county colleague Richard Jones by a shot at Broadstone a year ago.

But 39 year old East faces a tough battle to hold on to his crown in an impressive 120-strong field. His biggest threat could come from David Lane (Goring and Streatley), who won the English Senior Crown with a last hole birdie at Shifnal in June, and the man he deposed, Jon Marks (Woodbridge).

And you cannot dismiss the irrepressible Charlie Banks (Stanton-on-the-Wolds) who completed a hat-trick of Logan Trophy victories. Banks, 44, first won the over-35 title in 1995 at Seacroft, defended successfully at Panal the following year, then at Stockport in 1997 he made it three-in-a-row with a three-shot victory from Paul Williams (Denton) who is also competing this year.

But there are many potential winners in an impressive lineup where handicaps range from plus-2 to three. Tony Allen (Maxstoke Park is the plus-2 man while former England internationals Roger Roper (Catterick) and Mike Reynard (Moseley) cannot be discounted, nor can county stalwarts such as Gilbert Scoular (Cosby), Tony McLure (Whickham), David Powell (Bristol & Clifton) and Jim Feeney (Chapel-en-le-Frith).

There will be a cut after 36 holes, the leading 60 players and ties going forward to the final 18 holes.