MORE than 90 of Bolton’s top golfers will begin their campaign to win the Bolton Championship this week.

The competition to be crowned Bolton's best golfer has been staged annually since 1913 and battle commences on Saturday and concludes with the final next Thursday.

Liam Ball, from this year's host club Turton, is the reigning champion and is sure to face stiff competition from a number of rivals including four-time winner Gareth Hastie.

The qualifying 36 holes will be played on Saturday with the eight best scores going through to the knockout stages which get underway on Tuesday with the quarter-finals, followed by the semi-finals the following day.

The event is one of Bolton biggest sporting traditions and remains one of the high points on the town's sporting calendar.

Championship chairman Clive Hastie said: "The magic of the BGA Championship still has great appeal for all our top golfers.

"Turton officials and ground staff have played their part in honing the course and we all look forward to a rewarding championship.”

Originally called “Bolton’s Best Golfer”, George Bell won six championships from 1922 to 1928 to claim the Challenge Bowl Trophy which was donated by Prestons the Jewellers and the event organised by Fred Marshall from Bolton Golf Club.

Jim Scott of Great Lever won three championships in the 1930s before the Second World War brought matters to a halt.

It was widely believed there would never be another George Bell, but Jack Taylor went on to prove that theory wrong.

Small in size, he was big in talent, emerging from his merchant ship and, after rubbing down his rusty clubs, winning his first Bolton Golf Association championship in 1947.

He went on to win another nine, completing his 10th success in 1968.

Hastie, son of Clive, has been the dominant force in recent times and beaten finalist at Chorley last year, will again aim to join Howard Broadbent on the all-time winners' list on five.

Broadbent, one of the biggest characters the Bolton golf scene has known, won his titles between 1967 and 1988.

Gareth Hastie said: “This year I would like to win and match Howard’s five championships but the really hard part is assuring a place in the last eight.”

Ball, who got the better of Hastie last year in a game where neither man played particularly well, said: “I can’t play as much golf as I used too. But I am feeling okay and look forward to keeping my title.”

Hastie will be partnered with Aaron Watkinson of Old Links and Anthony Stirling of Harwood on Saturday while Liam Ball will be in a three-ball alongside Michael Tunstall of Old Links and Joe Whittaker of Great Lever.

The Championship is littered with past winners including Andy Runciman (2001), Steve Bryan (2004), three-time winner Tim Philbin (1995, 1997 and 2009), Ball (2010 and 2014) and the perennial high quality competitor Billy Bromilow (1980, 1987 and 1990).

One of the scratch three-balls include a former champion, Andy Runciman of Deane, Aaron Harper of Old Links and young Sam Berry of Bolton, a trio trio of youth and experience could well make the qualification.

Old Links will also supply the most regular and consistent player of recent times in qualification in Matthew Buckley who has been in the top eight over the last four consecutive years with a runner-up trophy, two semi-finals and one quarter-final.