HART Common professional Steve Parry believes local knowledge could be key to victory when Bolton Old Links hosts the PGA North Regional Championships later in the year.

Parry, of Daisy Hill, enjoyed a promising start to the season last week, finishing tied sixth in the Leeds Cup, the first of four big tournaments that count towards the PGA North's order of merit.

The 38-year-old was one-under par for his two rounds at Cobble Hall, five shots behind winner Michael Ramsden.

As the town's best-placed finisher, he could be regarded as one of the favourites for the next order-of-merit competition, the PGA North Regional Championships, which the Old Links will host on July 26 and 27.

But Parry believes home advantage will count for more than form, and admits he has mixed emotions about the choice of venue.

"It is absolutely fantastic that the Old Links has been chosen to stage the tournament and I am really looking forward to the challenge," he said.

"But I must admit I am more nervous than excited about my own prospects of winning.

"I played there quite a few times for Deane and then Bolton Golf Club in the Bolton Golf Association, before I became a pro.

"The thing is, though, I have never had a good time there, mainly because I have always found the greens so difficult to read.

"It is the sort of course where home advantage can be vital.

"Anyone who knows the course, and especially the greens, will have a really good chance of doing well in the tournament.

"So I would not rule out the club pro, Sean Owen. He is a good player and knows just how to get round the golf course."

Parry, who won the PGA North order of merit in 2010 and finished runner-up in 2012, is hoping to see is a decent turnout, calling on all local golf fans to support the tournament.

"Anyone who goes down to watch, I guarantee will be impressed by the standard of golf," he said.

"There will be some really good golfers on show as there is a really big prize at the end of it.

"Not only is there a lot of prestige attached to winning the PGA North Regional, but the top three in the order of merit at the end of the year go into a national play-off, with the winner handed a place at next year's PGA Championships at Wentworth."

Bolton Old Links' assistant pro, Daniel Bradbury, will be one of those competing.

The Billinge-based 23-year-old matched Parry's score of 69 in the opening round of the Leeds Cup last week but says his putter let him down in a second-round 76.

"It's obviously a great opportunity for me and Sean, being on our home course, and I would say we should definitely make the cut," he said.

"I have only worked here a couple of years, and actually don't get to play the course that often.

"But I will definitely fit in plenty of practice rounds in the run up to the tournament, so that should give me an advantage."