ANDY White is hoping to celebrate his birthday in style this week -- by winning the Harold Ryden Trophy.

White turns 37 on Wednesday, the day of the final at Wilpshire, and the Pleasington player says winning the trophy would be the best way to celebrate.

"It would mean more than anything to me," said White, who qualified third with a gross score of 140.

"It would a very nice birthday present. Winning the Harold Ryden means you are the best golfer in the area for the next 12 months."

And for the self-employed utility salesman, who has reached the semi-finals of the competition three times, it would would extra special to win it this year at the Wilpshire course.

"I like this course, it is very personal to me because my Grandad was captain here and I played here until I joined Pleasington when I was about 22."

"I have got a lot of friends here."

White, who plays off a handicap of plus one, was set to play Nelson's John Cockroft in the quarter finals tonight but says he fear no one in the competition.

"Nobody worries me" he said. "I have been playing well this year, I have had a good run and I have played in one or two big events.

"Qualifying is the most difficult part and I have always been good at matchplay so I will just go out there and let the score take care of itself.

"The qualifiers are all of a good standard so I will just be going out there and making the most of it and giving it my best shot."

White qualified for the English Open strokeplay at Royal Birkdale, finished 16th in the County Championships and has represented Lancashire B.

"Qualifying for the English Open was good achievement for me.

"I have been playing golf since I was seven and have been playing at this level since I was 16 but I have never won this. That is why it would mean so much to me."

Rain lashed the course in the morning and one of the victims of an early start was Ian Perkins, who scored 78 in the first round but knocked 10 off that in the second.

The Wilpshire player was surprised to find himself inside the top eight at the end of the day. "I wouldn't have expected to qualify with 146. Usually 144 is about the cut-off," he said.

"I was pleased with my second round because sometimes it is difficult after you've had a poor round because there's not much enthusiasm for the second but sometimes it can work in your favour because the pressure is off."

Perkins was due to meet Nelson's Craig Fort, who led the qualifiers with 139, this evening.

Rising star James Pierce was one of the surprise packages of the qualifiers.

The QEGS pupil took time out from his GCSEs to finish fifth with a score of 143.

The 16-year-old from Revidge was due to play Blackburn's Anthony Harwood, who qualified fourth with 142, in the quarter finals.

"I am delighted," beamed the Blackburn player, who plays off a handicap of four.

"I am quite confident but I am just wanting to do the best that I can."

Pierce, who came second in the Lancashire Boys Championships in May and just missed the cut in the Lancashire Amateur Champiosnhips, names becoming a professional as one of his big ambitions.

"It is definitely what I want to do but I know it's tough. My biggest aim this year is to get my handicap down to one or two by the end of September."

In the other quarter final tie Burnley mates Michael Hunt and Ben Scott, who last week joined forces to help their club to the Scratch Shield, will face each other.

The quarter final ties begin at 5.30pm tonight, and start at 10 minute intervals, tonight.

DRAW: Craig Fort (Nelson) v Ian Perkins (Wilpshire), James Pierce (Blackburn) v Anthony Harwood (Blackburn), Andy White (Pleasington) v John Cockroft (Nelson), Michael Hunt (Burnley) v Ben Scott (Burnley)

RESULTS: Alex Cave (Wilpshire) 87, 78, Ian Perkins (Wilpshire) 78, 68; Michael Hartley (Blackburn) 74, Steve Duerden (Nelson) 80; Dennis Greenup (Clitheroe) 70, 76, Stephen G Samuels (Burnley) 78, 87; Daniel Preedy (Clitheroe) 78, 80, Martin Cane (Clitheroe) 83, 75; Gary Phillipson (Darwen) 73, 74, John Cockcroft (Nelson) 72, 72; Anthony J Holt (Wilpshire) 77, 78, Andrew Westwell (Pleasington) 74, 75; Adam Markin (Nelson) 81, 73, Andrew White (Pleasington) 69, 71; D Chamberlain (Accrington) 74, 77, Michael Bardi (Wilpshire) 74, 72; Paul Connolly (Clitheroe) 73, 77, Robert Andrew (Clitheroe) 72, 74; James Pierce (Blackburn) 72, 71, Christopher Bentley (Wilpshire) 86, 79; Chris Smith (Blackburn) 84, 77, Alaster Barrett (Blackburn) 75, 81; Daniel Nutter (Nelson) 80, 83, Christopher Haigh (Wilpshire) 76, 74; Nick Uttley (Nelson) 72, 76, Martyn Brooks (Blackburn) 74, 73; Ben Main (Darwen) 78, 74, David Hemingway (Wilpshire) 80, 77; Colin McDermid (Wilpshire) 75, 76, Stuart Crolla (Mytton Fold) 85, 80; Miles Wade (Rossendale) 80, 76, M Spiers (Nelson) 79, 74.