ALTHOUGH defending champion Matt Blackey will be absent as he is not PGA qualified and therefore ineligible to play, the field for Friday's Strada Contractors Hampshire Open at Alresford is still a hugely impressive one.

Hayling's Blackey won last year's title with a 132 (-6) aggregate at Blackmoor and similarly good scoring is expected from the field at Alresford, comprising 58 of the county's top professionals and amateurs.

Amateur competitors include Hayling's Toby Burden and Corhampton's Neil Raymond, who were both in action today in Local Final Qualifying for the Open Championship.

Familiar Hampshire PGA professionals to watch include order of merit holder Kevin Saunders (Walhampton), Gary Stubbington (Hockley), Rob Edwards (Lee-on-the-Solent) and Ben Johnson (Stoneham). Joining them will be a trio of the county's players who have played on the Europro Tour this season - Alasdair Hay (Royal Winchester), David Porter (Wellow) and Andrew Cloke (South Winchester).

Former Ryder Cup player Steve Richardson (Lee-on-the-Solent) also plays, as does South Region PGA order of merit leader James Ablett (Lee-on-the-Solent).

Play commences at 8am and spectators are very welcome to come along and watch the county's best players in action.

For two pages of golf don't miss today's Daily Echo.