Local golfers performing well in Northern Matchplay

Local golfers are still in with a chance of winning the Northern Matchplay Golf Championship along the first prize of a golfing trip to Spain as the competition enters the latter stages.

The season-long knockout competition attracted 1,000 golfers from all over the north of England and three golfers from the Halifax-Huddersfield area are still in the Yorkshire section of the popular event.

Queensbury's Karl Smith has already booked a place in the regional final at Pannal Golf Club next month after winning through five rounds of individual matchplay. The five-handicapper will be joined by three other golfers at the Harrogate based course where a semi-final will be contested in the morning before a final in the afternoon.

He may be joined by another player from this region because Huddersfield's Derek Barnett is still in with a shout. The Fixby member entertains Teejay White from Rotherham for a place in the last four.

In the Betterball Pairs section Crosland Heath member Andrew Goldstein has teamed up with one-handicapper James Skirrow and the duo have dove-tailed perfectly so far to reach the sixth round. Skirrow, formerly a member at The Heath but now attached to Scarcroft, and Goldstein must visit Howley Hall where they will play for a place at Pannal.

Goldstein & Skirrow have been hotly tipped for the title after their triumph in the Brabazon Challenge at The Belfry last year.

Pannal Golf Club - regional final venue

Whoever wins at Pannal then progresses to the championship grand final at The Alwoodley Golf Club where they will take on winners from other regions from across the north. The overall winners will walk away with a golfing holiday in Spain thanks to Holmfirth based travel company Golf de la Luz who are the main sponsors of the tournament.

Those who didn't play in the event this year but may wish to do so in 2012 can now register their interest on the official championship website.