THE 101st Amateur Championship tees off at Turnberry next Monday with 288 competitors seeking to achieve the ultimate in amateur golf.

Last year's winner, Gordon Sherry from Scotland, embarked on a professional career immediately after playing this year's US Masters in Augusta, one of the rewards which awaits Sherry's successor.

Paul Dwyer and Stuart Andrew from Clitheroe, along with Nelson's Nick Uttley, will be vying for Sherry's title and all three are determined to perform well.

"This is THE tournament in amateur golf and everyone here this week will be doing their best to try to win it," said 22-year-old Dwyer who finished seventh in last week's Lancashire Championship.

"The facilities at Turnberry and condition of the course will be second to none and it really is the highlight of the year.

"Competition will be fierce and, historically, the winner is someone with a special future in the game."

The man hailed as the new Ballesteros, Sergio Garcia, is one of the favourites for the tournament which starts out with two strokeplay rounds from which the top 64 will qualify for the matchplay stage.

The 16-year-old Spanish junior star has already shown maturity beyond his years in winning the 1995 European Amateur Championship to guarantee his place in this year's Open Championship.

Jose Maria Olazabal is the only Spaniard to have won the Amateur, beating European number one Colin Montgomerie in the 1984 final at Formby to complement his titles in the Boys and Youth.

Gary Wolstenholme, Amateur Champion in 1991, is one of four players from last year's Walker Cup still in the amateur ranks and playing at Turnberry. He will face stiff competition from Jody Fanagan, Barclay Howard, Graham Rankin and last year's runner-up, Michael Reynard.

Players from 21 countries will be represented at Turnberry where 159 competitors from an initial entry of 485 have handicaps better than scratch. The field includes 89 English players, 58 Americans and 55 from Scotland.

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