Keighley's Andy Rhodes goes into this Sunday's 51st Bradford Open Championship at Bingley St Ives full of confidence after lifting the title in sweltering conditions last year.

Rhodes stunned players and spectators at the Hawksworth course with a brilliant 68 and admitted he had played his best golf in years.

Rhodes is one of 13 professionals in a very strong field out to win the title. Last year the pros had the upper hand with Shipley's Steven Bottomley finishing just a shot behind Rhodes. Of the first seven placings, six were professionals.

Rhodes said: "I would be reluctant to give up the trophy and I will be doing everything I can to keep it.

"I am confident and practising hard. I love St Ives. I played there for about 11 years from the age of nine and was junior captain.

"Golf in Bradford is getting stronger and stronger and there are between 15 and 20 players who could say they are in with a good chance on Sunday.

"I will try to be as relaxed as I can be but I enjoyed winning the trophy and I will be doing everything to win it again."

But the area's leading amateurs will have a big shout this year with Bingley's very own Richard Wheatley one of the firm favourites.

Wheatley won the Bingley Open last week with an eagle on the first hole of a play-off against Jamie Mountain. Mountain felt a little aggrieved having birdied the hole!

Other players to watch out for are Simon Bell, Darryl Berry, Mike Bradley and West Bradford's Paul Thomas, the last person to win the Open at St Ives - after a play-off with Rhodes. Some Bingley St Ives members still talk about the drive he hit on the first extra hole.

Once again Thwaites Brewery is providing refreshments - this time with a marquee behind the ninth green at St Ives.

Draw and tee times: 8am & 12.30pm - *M Bradley (Keighley), M Chapman (Shipley), M Marston (Rawdon); 8.10am & 12.40pm - *J Whittam (East Bierley), J Hall (Northcliffe), M Birkett (West Bradford); 8.20am & 12.50pm - G J Evans (Northcliffe), S Murray (Keighley), A Pilling (Woodhall Hills); 8.30am & 1pm - *W Kemp (West Bradford), C Suddards (Bradford Moor), J Firth (Baildon); 8.40am & 1pm - D Wright (Bradford Moor), C Seed (South Bradford), C Green (Cleckheaton); 8.50am & 1.20pm - *P Humpherson (Bingley St Ives), A Kkais (Keighley), C Goodison (Bradford); 9am & 1.30pm - C Hargreaves (Baildon), D Jordan (Bingley St Ives), J S Simpson (Shipley); 9.10am & 1.40pm - *A Ingham (Woodhall Hills), A Wells (South Bradford), J P Westwood (Baildon); 9.20am & 1.50pm - *M Wood (Hollins Hall), A G Brown (Bingley St Ives), D Woodcock (Cleckheaton); 9.30am & 2pm - *P I Cooke (South Bradford), A W Utley (Keighley), P Stephenson (Hollin Hall); 9.40am & 2.10pm - N Harker-Bell (Bradford Moor), I Houldsworth (Keighley), M Ramsden (Baildon); 9.50am & 2.20pm - *M Hillas (Northcliffe), C Hustwit (Calverley), B MacDonald (Clayton); 10am & 2.30pm - L Shepherd (Cleckheaton), A D Clarke (Shipley), T Gooding (Baildon); 10.10am & 2.40pm - *R Masters (Baildon), P Thomas (West Bradford), R J Hillas (Northcliffe); 10.20am & 2.50pm - R Wheatley (Bingley St Ives), D Teece (Baildon), J A Kelly (Northcliffe); 10.30am & 3pm - *W Lockett (Woodhall Hills), J Marshall (Keighley), R Simpson (West Bowling); 10.40am & 3.10pm - P A Crosby (Shipley), K Curran (South Bradford), M Bell (Northcliffe); 10.50am & 3.20pm - *S Moriarty (West Bowling), A Town (Northcliffe), A L Bean (Bradford); 11am & 3.30pm - D J Berry (West Bradford), M Vertigans (Cleckheaton), J Mountain (Bingley St Ives); 11.10am & 3.40pm - *M Ingham (Cleckheaton), A Houldsworth (Keighley), D Thomas (Baildon); 11.20am & 3.50pm - P Cheetham (South Bradford), J Martin (Hollins Hall), S Bell (Northcliffe); 11.30am & 4pm - *A Rhodes (Keighley), T Brushwood (West Bradford), M Roche (Baildon).

(* denotes professionals).