BURGHILL Valley's David Park returns to Slaley Hall, Northumber-land, this week, to defend the European Grand Prix title.

It was just 12 months ago that the young Herefordshire professional grabbed his chance to climb into the top echelon when he won the title in only his second PGA European Tour event.

Park returns to Slaley Hall full of confidence, having spent his week's break from the tour practising, relaxing and having the loft and lie of his clubs checked.

His club colleague, assistant professional Keith Preece, is also running into a rich vein of form. In the Rotary Classic Pro-Am, played at Copt Heath, he fired a superb 69 to claim fourth place in a field which included the best club professionals from the Midlands.

At South Staffs, in the Charity Pro-Am, he produced a blistering five-under-par back nine of 30 for a gross 70 and second place, behind top European Tour player John Bickerton, of Droitwich, who shot a new course record of 68.