GARETH Hastie will not get the chance to go clear second in the Bolton Golf Championship next week.

The reigning champion is currently level with Howard Broadbent on five wins ahead of this year's tournament which starts on Saturday.

He was hoping to make it six and close the gap on the legendary Jack Taylor who is out on his own with 10 titles.

But work commitments have forced the 37-year-old Bolton Golf Club player to pull out.

He said: "Obviously I am disappointed not to be able to play but my work commitments are excessive.

"I could maybe make it on the Saturday but I would probably not be able to play the full knockout phases if I got through and it would not be fair to the other players."

The qualifying 36 holes will be played at Hindley Hall on Saturday with the eight best scores going forward to the quarter-final on Tuesday which will be followed by the semi-finals the following night and the final on Thursday.

Liam Ball – who beat Hastie in the 2014 final – last year's beaten finalist Anthony Stirling, Aaron Harper and Josh Ashton are among those who are likely to be in the running.

Ball, who also won the title in 2010 and has moved his membership to Hindley Hall this year, is strongly fancied to be in the frame for honours again.

Harper had an excellent outing in the Lancashire Amateur Championship in May. He finished fifth in a field of 120 that was brimming with top amateur golfers.

A number of previous Bolton champions are in the running including 1995, 1997 and 2009 winner Tim Philbin, and 1980, 1987 and 1990 champion Bill Bromilow,

Karl Bowker of Old Links also played in the Lancashire Championship and could be a decent outside bet along with Joe Whittaker of Great Lever and the emerging Jacob Greenhalgh of Regent Park who also played in the Lancashire Championship.

Club captain at Hindley, Paul Cottenden, said: “We are proud to be hosts to the BGA Championhsip 2016 and I am particularly pleased that the event has fallen in my term of office.

"Our staff have worked hard to prepare the course to a high standard and I am sure the competitors will enjoy the Hindley experience.”