Reigning Senior PGA Professional champion George Ryall is relishing his return to Northants County to defend the title.
The Bristol-based pro excelled on his debut over the Harry S Colt track last year to claim the title with a five-shot margin and should he reclaim the title he will join senior legend Tommy Horton as the only other player to win the championship more than once in its 16 year history.
It was Ryall's first time at Northants County, which will stage the tournament for the fourth straight year between May 26-28, and the 51-year-old Player Club ace is eager to renew acquaintances with a course that left a very good impression on him.
"I have great memories having won there and I was very pleasantly surprised by the course as I had never played it before," he said.
"I didn't know a lot about it when I got to the tournament but I left knowing a lot more.
"It's an old style traditional course and one that you have to play well. You can't just get your ball round, you have to think your way round. It's a shot making course and it asks a lot of questions of you."
The former PGA Cup player, who is also embarking on his second season on the European Senior Tour, admits that his knowledge of the course should assist him in his defence of the crown.
However, Ryall is acutely aware that there will be stiff competition among his peers.
"If there's a course you've done well at, it's always good to go back there because you know you can play it well," said the 2008 West Region Order of Merit winner.
"Even so, it's never easy to just go back and win. It's certainly not a given, especially in the seniors game where it's the new guys who have turned 50 that tend to do well.
"I did it last year and this year's field could see both John Harrison, who won European Senior Tour q-school, and Fraser Mann, who also got his card, competing for the title. There will be a few new faces in the hunt that's for sure."
This year's 54-hole tournament will again feature a field of 144 players competing for a share of a £35,000 prize fund.
The top 20 players will also qualify for the £250,000 De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship at Slaley Hall in June, while the winner will also compete in Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Seniors Open.
26 February, 2010