RETIEF Goosen and Jesper Parnevik have both pulled out of this week's Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

Goosen is saving himself for next week's Open at Royal Troon, where he will be trying to make it an incredible three victories in a row after he yesterday added the European Open to the United States Open title he grabbed two weeks ago.

Parnevik, on the other hand, has a shoulder injury and his no-show this week means he will also not be at Troon next week.

Jamie Howarth was cursing the luck of the draw for today's Open Championship regional qualifying rounds.

The 20-year-old Marple player would have fancied his chances at Prestbury after winning their scratch title 48 hours earlier with a second-round 67.

But instead, today he headed to Trentham.

Jamie rattled in five birdies for a two-shot win over Cheshire teammates Paul Grannell, of Sandiway, and Reddish Vale's Adam Stott.

They were both back at Prestbury today with Jamie's older brother Scott.

Cheshire, meanwhile, probably regret naming Jamie as only first reserve for their Northern Counties League showdown with Yorkshire at Wychwood Park on Saturday.

But there could be several changes in their line-up before then.

Lancashire are also bracing themselves to lose some players for their match against Durham at Stand.

Skipper Cliff Bowman has opted for youth, handing a debut to Shaw Hill's Jonathan Hurst, and will be encouraged by Stuart Taylor's victory in the Wilpshire Trophy on Saturday.

The Eccleston Park player fired rounds of 72 and 68 to win by a shot from team-mate Michael Hunt.

Chorlton pro David Valentine, carded a final-round 68 and briefly held the clubhouse lead at five-under-par in the De Vere Hotels City of Leeds Cup at Oulton Park before settling for a share of fifth place.

Mike Scholes and Bob Redford homed in on the South East Lancs fourball bogey at Leigh, beating clubmates Stuart Williams and Mark Riley and Ellesmere duo Andy Lees and Mark Rigby on countback.

Lymm assistant Anthony Millar won the Knutsford pro-am with five-under-par 65 by four shots from Didsbury's Peter Barber. And Mossock Hall's David Shacklady prevailed in the Sandbach pro-am with six-under 62.

Sebastian Crookhall-Nixon was the star in the Wee Wonders regional final at Haigh Hall where he played the nine-hole course in 35 shots to win the nine to 10 age section.

Ex-Lancashire player Lee Slattery, 25, recorded his second EuroPro Tour victory in a month at Stoke-by-Nayland.

Results

WILPSHIRE - Mitsushiba northern merit Wilpshire Trophy: 140 S Taylor (Eccleston Park) 72,68; 141 M Hunt (Pleasington) 69,72; 142 T Foster (Accrington) 71,71.

KNUTSFORD - Pro-am: 65 A Millar (Lymm); 69 P Barber (Didsbury); 70 B Lewis (Northop Park), R Young (Sandiway); 71 M Brunton (Sale), G Clark (Birchwood), D Brunton (Ringway), P McKenzie (Sale), T Rastall (Mottram Hall), A Stevens (Shrigley Hall), C Corrigan (Haigh Hall).

LEIGH - South East Lancs GA fourball bogey: 5-up M Scholes & R Redford (Leigh), S Williams & M Riley (Leigh), A Lees & M Tigby (Ellesmere).

PRESTBURY - Open: 141 J Howarth (Marple) 74,67; 143 P Grannell (Sandiway) 73,70, A Stott (Reddish Vale) 72,71. 1st rd gross: 70 M Rogers (Hazel Grove). 2nd rd: 69 J Pye (Preston). Nett: 139 P Ogden (Bramhall).

HAIGH HALL - Wee Wonders regional final. Boys: 11-12 Thomas Mortimer; 9-10 Sebastian Crookhall-Nixon; 7-8 Lee Spurling (in play-off); 5-6 James Green. Girls: 11-12 Helen Searle; 9-10 Ellie Thorpe; 7-8 Ellie Goodall.

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