THE county’s leading amateur golfers descend on one of Britain’s top courses today as the Yorkshire Amateur Championship gets under way.

Martin Brown, the York Union of Golf Clubs’ champion for the last five years, leads the North Yorkshire charge and will pit his wits against a field of 164 other players at Ganton Golf Club, near Scarborough.

The field play a 36-hole qualifying round today and tomorrow before the leading 32 golfers settle down to battle it out for the crown over matchplay for the final three days.

Ganton, which has hosted the Ryder Cup and, most recently the Walker Cup in 2003, is regularly voted one of the country’s best courses and will provide a formidable links test.

Aside from Brown, who only recently missed out in local qualifying for the 140th Open Championship at Royal St George’s next week and is the lowest handicapper in the competition at +2, Fulford’s Jamie Miller will also have his eyes on the prize.

One of the youngest entrants will be 15-year-old Sam Wilkinson, also from Fulford, who regularly turns out for the county’s under-16s and boys’ first teams.

Keith Dowswell, secretary of the Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs, said: “Ganton is a fantastic setting for this championship. It’s only a yard short of 7,000 and it is a top class field this year.

“It’s very strong and there are a quality group of young players who are all more than capable of winning it. It’s a great golf course and it will be interesting to see who can win.”