Dane Bairstow is hoping local knowledge can help him become the first Bradford Junior Open champion from his club in ten years on Sunday.

Just short of 130 young golfers will battle it out for the district's premier junior prize at West Bradford with Bairstow, as a host club member, starting among the favourites.

It will be the 18-year-old's last chance to win the title before he loses junior status and he is coming in to form at just the right time.

"Hopefully I can get in the mix. I'm now playing off two and have come down a full shot in the last month. I shot a couple of 66s on the trot in club competitions," he said.

Bairstow's best round at the Allerton-based course is 65 and he believes that something close to that might be needed if conditions are good.

But if the recent poor weather continues then that is when the former Queensbury Upper School pupil could come into his own.

He said: "I know where to put the ball if things are going badly. You have to keep it out of the trees and they've let the rough grow quite a bit so you have to keep it in play."

Bairstow, whose birthday in early January makes him one of the oldest competitors on Sunday, finished tied for fourth place in last year's event at Skipton.

He learned his golf under Rudding Park professional Neil Moore, who coaches top Yorkshire player and recent Welsh Amateur Open champion John Parry.

Bairstow works for Bradford-based golf accessory manufacturer Hazzad Golf with Darryl Berry - the last player from West Bradford to win the Junior Open in 1997.

Like most of his peers, the Lidget Green-based youngster dreams of making a career in golf one day but he has more immediate aims and winning on Sunday would go some way to helping achieve them.

"I hope to get down to scratch by the end of the year and I'm also hoping to break into the Bradford Union side and push on for Yorkshire."

Last year's junior title winner Liam O'Neill not only went on to represent the district and county, he was also selected for England coaching.

The Keighley youngster, still only 16, will once again be a strong contender.

He is aiming to become the first junior to win successive Opens since Martin Foster for Clayton way back in 1969-70.

O'Neill has once again been at the hub of Keighley's impressive scratch team, winning all his games to date.

His club are currently second in the First Division after winning promotion last season.

Sam Jewell has also been part of that good start and will also be a big contender on Sunday. The son of former City manager Paul is still a member at Bradford but plays scratch team golf for Keighley.

Both O'Neill and Jewell were among those taking part in the Yorkshire Boys' Open at Ilkley today.

Others who will have their eyes on the title on Sunday include runner-up for the last two years Danny Hall (Cleckheaton), former champion Oliver Young (Hollins Hall), Ben Cheetham (Keighley) and Daniel Chadwick (Bradford).

Among the dark horses include Chris Howe (Hollins Hall) and Chris Watts, the latter helping Northcliffe to the junior league first division title last season.

Bradford Union Junior League organiser Peter Delaney said: "Dane is on his own course so he must be the favourite but he'll have a fight on his hands as there's lots of lads pushing him."