Seeded players named

Four-times champion Bobby Eggo is seeded one for the sixth edition of the week-long event and at the other end of the draw two-times Ryder Cup player Paul Way is seeded two.

Way remains the second youngest ever Great Britain and Europe Ryder Cup debutant after Nick Faldo.

In his time Way, now 55, collected three European Tour wins, including the PGA Championship.

But both Eggo, who has never lost a Ravenscroft Matchplay tie, and Way face big hurdles if they are to claim the crown of an event which is preceded by Sunday’s qualifier where the final eight spots in the 16-man draw will be confirmed.

Steve Richardson, is seeded three for the championship and is particularly well known to Eggo, the two having clashed in the 1989 English Amateur matchplay final.

Richardson won 2 and 1 before turning professional, then became a three-time winner on the European Tour and claimed a Ryder Cup place in 1991 when he lost his singles to Corey Pavin.

More recently the Hayling Island-based professional has been a regular on the European Seniors tour.

Fourth seed Darren Leng, 43, who played in the Open Championship as recently as four years ago, rolled back the years when last July he won the 36-hole PGA North £19,500 Renewable Energy Pro-am at Hull Golf Club.

All told, Leng holds 15 course records and as well as playing on the Challenge tour between 2003-2006 had eight European Professional Development Tour wins, now called the Pro Golf Tour.

Chris Guy, is seeded five and played on the European tour in 2004 and is a winner of numerous regional events, as well as three European Professional Development Tour victories.

He has also played on the Australasia tour.

Island matchplay runner-up Jamie Blondel is also seeded having stepped into the tournament as a replacement for his cousin Danny, unavailable for the Ravenscroft due to a family holiday.

All the visiting professionals will feature in Monday’s Pro-Am and on the following four days conduct junior golfing clinics.