SIMON Eaton will be looking to go one step further than last year when he tees it up in regional qualifying for the Open Championship.

The Burnley assistant made it to the final qualifying stage 12 months ago and will be out to follow the same route when he plays at Ormskirk next Monday.

A leading finish there will take him up to Scotland next weekend for 36 holes which will determine the 40-odd qualifiers from four venues to join the world's best at St Andrew's.

And Eaton is timing his tilt at a first Open appearance nicely.

"I'm playing well. I had a bit of a rocky start to the season but over the past couple of months I've started to come to," said the 24-year-old who won an event at Accrington last week to follow on from a third place finish in a pro-am at Darwen.

He was in action again at Hillside today and then faces two more pro-ams between now and Monday when he will be back at Ormskirk for a third successive qualification bid.

The parkland course therefore holds few surprises, which comes in handy when the regional qualifying is played over just 18 holes.

"You've only got one chance and you've really got to be on your game.

"Level-par normally gets in and I'll hopefully be looking to shoot under par.

"But I'm sure everyone raises their game for this," added Eaton, who is backed by Colne company Multicare and Stuart Engineering of Accrington.

This year's Open is being given added status as the Millenium event and as the only major to so far escape the clutches of Tiger Woods promises to be a classic. Playing in any Open would be rewarding enough for the likes of Eaton, although there's little doubt that this year's tournament at the home of golf would be extra special.

"It's the major target of the year and I'm sure everybody would give up what they've won to play at St Andrew's.

"In my mind it doesn't make too much off a difference. It's the Open Championship at the end of the day, although it would be nice to play at St Andrew's," admitted Eaton, who enjoyed the experience he gleaned from reaching the latter stages last year.

"Playing with European Tour players and in front of the crowds just makes you want more," he said.

In all, 15 local professionals and a couple of our leading amateurs launch bids for an Open place at three of the 17 venues in use on Monday.

Some 172 players will progress from regional to final qualifying so around about a top-12 finish at the first stage should be enough to keep the dream alive.

And Eaton believes a few can live to fight another day.

"There are a lot of good golfers in this area and I don't see any reason why a few of the lads can't make it, which would be good," he said.

Also playing at Ormskirk are Nelson's Guy Bretherton, David Shacklady of Leisure Lakes, Clitheroe's Paul McEvoy, Stuart Andrew, Paul Dwyer and James Webster, Robert Ratcliffe of Rossendale, Blackburn's Jason Ashton, Chorley's Alan Watson, Ged Furey of Pleasington and the Nelson amateur duo of Nick Uttley and John Cockroft.

Accrington's Damian Taylor and Blackburn amateur Tony Jackson make their bid at Stockport, while at Alwoodley near Leeds, the local challenge is mounted by Simon Townend of Wilpshire, Accrington's Mark Harling and Jeff Mathews of the Blackburn Driving Range.