Steve Bottomley defends his Bradford Open title at Cleckheaton on Sunday determined to strike a blow for the professionals.

His win at his home course Shipley last year ended a run of six wins by amateurs in the only Bradford Union contest open to both amateur and professional golfers.

And as he comes near to the end of his second year of three earning his PGA card, Bottomley is keen to make his mark on the competition.

The 36-year-old has been spending almost as much time studying off the course as he has on it in recent weeks as he bids to keep his professional status.

"I've not been able to play that much in recent weeks," he admitted. "I played in the Leeds Cup and pre-Open qualifying but didn't get through.

"It must be more than 15 years since I last played Cleckheaton so I will probably try to get in a practice round before then, but I don't suppose it has changed that much.

"It's been really hard work studying to get my PGA card so I can take part in these sort of competitions in the future. I have to do 3-4,000-word assignments and self-assessments. I will be glad when it is all over."

Bottomley, a veteran of five British Open championships, scored an impressive win at Shipley last year with rounds of 67 and 72 giving him a two strokes margin over runner-up Phil Wood.

But his main fear is that the same course advantage he used to good effect in 2000 will provide the winner this time.

"I would say Cleckheaton professional Mike Ingham must have a great chance of winning," he said.

"I have seen him play recently and he is in very good form. I'm sure he would love to win it on his home course."

Keighley's Wood, winner when the event was last played at Cleckheaton in 1995 and Ingham, winners of the previous Open there in 1990, seem certain to provide the main challenge to Bottomley.

Lee Shepherd will also be putting in a challenge to become the youngest winner of the title on his home course at the age of just 16.

Other strong contenders will be West Bradford's Darryl Berry, who narrowly failed to qualify for the Open at Royal Lytham, clubmate Mark Evans - the 36-holes strokeplay champion - and Keighley professional Mike Bradley.