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12 May, 2008

Urquhart Begins Defence Of Northern Open

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Scotland's finest hit Spey Valley this week in pursuit of the Northern Open and a share of an incredible £50,000 prize pot.

A maximum field of 132 professionals, plus 10 amateurs, tee off tomorrow looking to pocket close to £8,000 if they take the mantle from defending champion Murray Urquhart, who will make the short trip from Inverness to the Aviemore venue.

The 72-hole event, one of the most prestigious on the Tartan Tour schedule, has lured an impressive field, which will see only the top 50 and ties move through to the final 36 holes.

Fresh from his victory in the Scotscraig Pro-Am, Challenge Tour regular Scott Henderson (Kings Links) will make his first Order of Merit appearance for 18 months. He tees off at 9.05.

Also landing in the Cairngorms from their jet-setting lifestyle on Europe's second tier of the golfing ladder are David Patrick (Mortonhall), who tees off at 12.23 and County Tipperary attaché Euan Little, who begins his quest at 10.26.

The in-form Chris Doak, who is a chasing a third successive Order of Merit victory tees of 9.23, while Andrew Oldcorn, who secured the first event of the Tartan Tour campaign, gets under way 12.59.

Last year's Order of Merit top three Greig Hutcheon (Peterculter), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) and Mark Loftus (Cowglen) are also expected to make a charge for the title.

Finally, host pro Alan Tait, recently appointed Director of Golf at Spey Valley and a Fellow of the PGA, dusts down his clubs for his first competitive action in nigh on ten years.

The Northern Open is one of the counting events in the race for the Srixon PGA Play-Offs, which will be staged at Royal Liverpool in October.

The Tartan Tour's top three will contest the event with the top three from the PGA's six other regions with the winner securing invites to some of the European Tour's major events.

For the full field and list of tee times click here.