WOLSTENHOME BIDS FOR "MISSING" BRABAZON CROWN

Gary Wolstenholme will attempt to add another "missing" name to his portfolio of golf titles when he bids for the English Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship, the Brabazon Trophy, at Moortown, Leeds, on 14-16 May. His late father, Guy, won the Championship at Ganton in 1960 but so far it has eluded the Leicestershire-based Walker Cup star whose best finish is joint third behind Spain's Ignacio Garrido at Hollinwell in 1992.

But with two victories already under his belt this year - the Duncan Putter and the Berkhamsted Trophy - Wolstenholme is in the sort of form to claim one of English golf's major trophies. Not that he will have it easy. Nine other members of the Walker Cup squad are included in a truly international field which will battle for the prestigious title as the Brabazon makes a welcome return to Moortown after an absence of 25 years.

Mark Sanders, the English champion and the man Wolstenholme beat in a play off for the Berkhamsted Trophy, is also playing well while fellow England internationals Mark Hilton, Mike Reynard, Ben Mason, Simon Dyson, Colin Edwards, Philip Rowe, Aran Wainwright and Graeme Storm are also in the field.

The international theme is underlined by the inclusion of Scottish caps David Patrick, recent winner of the Champion of Champions tournament and Craig Watson as well as players from Germany, Belgium, Italy, France, Denmark, New Zealand, Finland, South Africa, Australia and Barbardos.

The internationals in the field are among 64 players exempt from the two days of pre-qualifying which takes place at Moortown on 12-13 May. The pre-qualifiers number 240 with the leading 37 plus ties each day joining the 64 exemptions to complete a field of 138 plus ties for the Championship proper.

This year's lineup includes just four previous winners, Charlie Banks (Stanton-on-the-Wolds), who won at Hollinwell in 1983, Roger Roper (Catterick), joint winner at Seaton Carew in 1985, and Colin Edwards (Bath) who tied with Mark Foster (Worksop) at Hillside four years ago.

Banks, 44, three times a winner of the Logan Trophy, always supported the Brabazon, while current Logan Trophy holder, Stephen East, will be on home ground as a member of Moortown. English Seniors champion, Jon Marks (Woodbridge), who will be 57 in June, is also competing, but like Banks and Roper, will have to pre-qualify.

The Brabazon has been held only three times previously at Moortown, in 1957 Doug Sewell was the winner, while in 1969 Michael Bonallack, current Secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, tied with Rodney Foster on 290, one ahead of South African, Dale Hayes.

On the last occasion Moortown played host, in 1974, another South African, Neville Sundelson, won on 291.