HAMPSHIRE'S sought-after Young Professionals Golf Championship has undergone a radical facelift designed to boost the quality and the quantity of the field.

When the 28th Patrons-backed event takes place at Brokenhurst Manor on Thursday, May 2, the age limit will rise from 25 to 30 for the first time.

It means that former champions like Kevin Saunders (Dibden), Andy Gordon (Stoneham) and Ian Warwick (Fleming Park) will again be eligible to play for the coveted trophy.

HPGA secretary David Wheeler explained: "We haven't that many young professional golfers left in the county, so by raising the age limit we get a bigger and better field."

It means that defending champion James Pitcher will do well to hang on to the trophy although he has the advantage of trying to do it on a course he knows well.

Although Pitcher is now an assistant to club professional Mark Desmond at Romsey, he spent several years of his apprenticeship at Brokenhurst Manor which completes a full-blooded return to the HPGA circuit with their own charity pro-am tournament on June 27.

By lifting the age limit next week, HPGA also opens the door for a couple of county major winners in Jon Le Roux (Worldham Park) and Matthew Robbins (Botley Park) who are former matchplay champions.

Also lining up in a quality field is Russell Tate, the East Horton assistant who, as an amateur, won the prestigious Hampshire Hog.