North and Allan Tie at West Lancs - Golf Clothing Journal

Playing in his first Glenmuir Club Professional Championship, Josh North from De Vere Herons' Reach in Blackpool fired a super three-under 69 today at West Lancashire Golf Club to lead the qualifiers from the PGA north-west region, jointly with Peter Allan from Ashton-in-Makerfield.

The 23-year-old North, who completed his PGA exams only last year, will now join 133 other qualifiers from Great Britain & Ireland for the 72-hole final at Prince's, near Sandwich, from 13 - 16 June. And making it a hugely successful day for the Blackpool club, both Tony Johnstone (72), in the final three-ball, and Richard Bowman (74) also made the final.

One under at the turn, Josh forged ahead after a punched three-iron tee shot at the 179-yard 12th ended three feet from the pin. Five safe pars were followed by another birdie at the 428-yard final hole.

The former Lancashire boys' team player has one assistants' win under his belt since he joined Herons' Reach, but the chance to bid for the Glenmuir title, worth £10,000, is his career's highlight so far.

"I've never played at Prince's", he admitted. "The closest I've been down there is Chart Hills but to get the chance to play in the final is just great."

Allan, this year's Lancashire PGA captain and a former captain of the North Region, was another in cracking form. In a flawless round the 46-year-old made gains at the seventh, 10th and 16th holes.

A former European Tour player, and no stranger to Glenmuir finals, Peter is hoping he can improve on last year, when he missed the halfway cut at Woodhall Spa. He's already a much travelled player last winter and this spring, having competed in pro-ams in California and the Algarve.

Two birdies and an eagle, for a one-under par 71, boosted the card of 44-year-old Tony Stevens, who moved just two weeks ago from Shrigley Hall to Davenport, near Stockport.

Tony rolled in a 10-footer for his first gain after a fine six-iron tee shot at the 156-yard sixth. The long 11th was reduced to a drive, a three-wood and a little chip to eight feet. But his shot of the day came at the 530-yard 16th where his third, a 50-yard sand wedge, went straight in for an eagle. His only dropped shots came at the short third, where he missed the green, and at the dogleg right 14th, the toughest hole on the course.

Originally from Hampshire, Tony is relishing the chance to play Prince's after a long number of years. "It's one of the great seaside links courses down there", he said.