The PGA Europro tour comes to Shipley next week and local golfer Gordon Brand is in with a great chance of picking up the £10,000 first prize.

The tournament which takes place at Hollins Hall on August 21-23 is run by Barry Hearn's Matchroom organisation and it is being screened by Sky Television.

It is fabulous publicity for the local course as the programme will be seen in 50 countries around the world.

Brand said: "It is my home course but these greens are tricky and it is easy to end up on the wrong side of the pins all day.

"There is not much to aim for but I am confident."

The Europro Tour is for those professionals who do not play on the main or Challenge Tours and Brand fancies his chances because he has hit a rich vein of form.

He recently shot a course-breaking 63 at the De Vere Hotels PGA North Region Championship in Blackpool - a tournament where he finished 16 under par.

Brand was runner-up to Phil Archer and pocketed £2,000.

The 47-year-old former Ryder Cup player pressed his playing partner Archer hard in the final round but despite shooting a 66 and making up two shots on him, lost it on the final par-five hole. I went for the big one, hoping to give Phil something to think about but I put the ball in the hazard and it cost me a shot," said Brand.

The 100 or so professionals in the Europro tournament at Hollins Hall are playing for their own money.

"Each player pays a £275 entry fee so the winnings are quite high," explained Brand.

"But as I have said, the Hollins Hall course is a funny one."

Brand will be one of the biggest names in the tournament. He will be up against some of the best up-and-coming young players.

In the eighties and early nineties, he rose to the top playing Ryder Cup golf in America and winning several Open tournaments.

Brand also came close to winning the British Open at Turnberry.

The Europro tour recently came under the wing of the PGA. This season there are 19 events generating prize money of nearly £1m.

As well as being shown on Sky, the tour also receives exposure on the Golf Channel in America as well as satellite and cable stations in Asia, South Africa and Scandinavia.

The tour is officially recognised by the PGA as an approved third level tour.

PGA Chief Executive Sandy Jones, said: "This is one of the best opportunities for young, ambitious pros to enjoy a taste of life on the tournament circuit and to gain really valuable competitive experience."

Barry Hearn said: "The tour will unearth tomorrow's golfing superstars."

Other local players taking part next week include Steven Bottomley, James Hepworth and Nick Ludwell.