SOME of the north's top golfers will descend on Flaxton later this month for the PGA Yorkshire Masters at Sandburn Hall.

The ten-year-old venue, just off the A64, is staging the event, which has a field of more than 120 professionals, over three days from June 16.

A pro-am on the Monday is followed by a 36-hole tournament for an event which has important significance on the PGA North circuit.

Last year, it was upgraded to order of merit status on the PGA North and was won by Lancashire's David Shacklady with a brace of 68s.

Among the local entries this time around is former Sandburn professional Simon Appleton, now representing Allerthorpe Park, Easingwold's pro pairing of Alastair Grindlay and Nick Marchant, and York Golf Club's Thomas James.

A number of the competitors 12 months ago were highly complimentary about the condition and standard of the 6,700-yard par 72 outfit and, following further work over the winter on the course, Rob Heath, Sandburn Hall golf manager, is hoping for more of the same this time around.

"This is the second year the Masters has been part of the PGA North Order of Merit and the players will encounter a different course this year with some of the trees having grown and new bunkers installed around the course, such as on the 14th hole," he said.

"This event is a big deal for the club. It brings in top players - from all areas and not just from across Yorkshire - and it spreads the name of Sandburn Hall.

"We received quite a lot of good feedback last year and we are hoping for more of the same this time."