PAUL Eales and Simon Edwards return to the scene of former glories on Thursday when they compete in the inaugural PGA Play-offs at Woodhall Spa along with Chester-based Mark Sheppard.

The trio qualified through topping the North Region rankings and Edwards, professional at Wrexham club Clays, is a hot favourite in the 36-hole shoot-out.

He was one of the heroes for the Great Britain and Ireland side's PGA Cup victory over the United States last years and he described the Hotchkin course as "magnificent."

All told, 21 players from seven regions battle for honours which include direct entry into four European Tour events next year - the BMW Championship at Wentworth, the Smurfit Kappa European Open at The K Club, the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond and the Celtic Manor Wales Open plus four Challenge Tour events.

Sheppard, beaten in the M.E.N. Manchester Open play-off at Mottram Hall in August, had a schedule dilemma last month. "Stage One of the European Tour School clashed with the Leeds Cup, one of our order of merit events, so I decided to play in the latter - and I'm now glad I did, otherwise I wouldn't have qualified for the play-offs," he said.

Eales, a European Tour winner in Spain in 1994 but better known these days for his skills behind the microphone on radio and TV, is very familiar with Woodhall Spa from his amateur days.

"With a pal called Gary Pearson, we won the Central England Foursomes", recalled the 43-year-old.

HAIGH Hall professional Craig Corrigan faces Mark Bradley, from Chorley, who succeeded him as PGA North Region champion 10 days ago in the Lancashire Matchplay semi-finals at Royal Lytham and St Annes on Thursday.

The winner will meet either Houghwood's Barry Taylor, the defending champion, or Huyton and Prescot's John Fisher.

CHAPEL-en-le Frith won the Manchester Alliance BMW Junior Team Challenge for the first time in convincing style by beating a gallant Prestwich by 4-3 at Lowes Park.