NINE East Lancashire golfers will be hoping to move a step closer to the Open Championship on Monday when regional qualifying takes place at Clitheroe.

The course is hosting one of 14 regional qualifying events for the fourth year and the recent dry weather has left it in ‘excellent condition’.

A field of 72 will tee it up at the picturesque course hoping they can secure progress to local final qualifying and edge closer to competing against the likes of Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods.

Leading the East Lancashire charge will be Mark Young, who will be out in the first group at 8am.

Hurst Green-based Young was Lancashire amateur champion in 2012 and last year won his fourth Northern Order of Merit title in six years.

The 31-year-old made it out of Clitheroe qualifying last year and was well placed in final qualifying at St Annes Old Links at the halfway stage, but tailed off after a triple bogey at the 17th having started his second round at the 10th.

Mike Walls, general manager at Clitheroe Golf Club, said: “It is always a privilege to host the event, the Open is the biggest tournament in the world and it is a great occasion here.

“The course is looking in excellent condition after the recent dry spell. I’ve had a look at the weather forecast and at the moment it is looking like it’s going to be dry, which is what we want.

“There are quite a few local lads playing and it is always nice to see them do well.”

Clitheroe member Daniel Nutter will be hoping to take advantage of local knowledge when he tees off with Blackburn’s Craig Gornall at 8.33am.

Chorley’s Andy Palmer will get his Open campaign underway at 8.55am, Wilpshire’s Joey Lamb at 9.28am, Nelson’s Niall Ormerod and Thomas Stuart of Chorley at 9.39am, Robert Middleton of Pleasington at 9.55am and Blackburn’s Jason Ashton at 10.28am.

The final number of qualifiers from Clitheroe will depend on results elsewhere but around 10 can expect to progress to the final qualifying events, which will be held at four courses – Dunbar, Gullane No 1, North Berwick and The Musselburgh – on July 2, with 16 places available for the Open at Muirfield.