ANTHONY Harwood remains on course to defend the Harold Ryden Trophy after qualifying for the quarter-finals at Burnley.

The 2017 champion returned scores of 74 & 71 to post a two-round total of 145.

Harwood will now face home player Anthony Keenan in one of this evening’s last-eight ties.

The Burnley member was incredibly consistent throughout his 36 holes and ended the day as the third best qualifier after scores of 69 and 72.

Only three men bettered Keenan’s total of 141, 2008 winner Gary Blades, Andy Riley and former runner-up Chris Nuttall.

Due to Riley’s commitments with the Lancashire Seniors team this week, though, he decided to withdraw from the knockout stages of the event despite rounds of 72 and 68.

Blades topped the 36-hole leaderboard after backing up an opening 69 with a one-over par 70.

His reward is a tie with club-mate Carl Parker - one of his playing partners from the weekend who was the eighth and final qualifier on 148.

Accrington’s Chris Nuttall fired in a pair of 70s to end the day in second at 140 and he faces a mouthwatering quarter-final tie against Nick Uttley of Nelson.

The fourth match this evening sees Blackburn’s Paul Swan - who opened with a 69 before a second round of 74 on Saturday - lock horns with Clitheroe member John Blahuta, whose second round of 70 got him into the final eight after he began with a 75.