CRAIG SMITH, Damon Coulson and George Forder - just three of the talented young golfers Fulford GC chiefs are hoping can make home advantage pay at next month's Yorkshire Amateur Championship.

The prestigious Heslington course will stage a new-look event, competed over four rounds of strokeplay rather than the traditional matchplay format, from Tuesday, August 18 until Thursday, August 20.

A 36-hole final day fest awaits the 40 qualifiers from a 128-man field and Fulford general manager Gary Pearce is hoping the reinvigorated competition will provide plenty of drama for watching spectators.

With 55 category one golfers - those with handicaps of five and below - at the club, Pearce is also expecting a wealth of entries from Fulford members looking to capitalise on familiar surroundings.

And as the club's own great triumvirate of Smith, Coulson and Forder prepare to mount their challenges, club members are expecting a strong performance from the York contingent.

"There are 128 who qualify to play in the first two rounds and it will be over-subscribed," said Pearce. "From our golf club alone, we have some players who are good contenders to win. They are going to hope for home advantage.

"It doesn't always pan out like that. There is a bit of pressure on when you play at your home club but if they use home advantage as it should go then there is a chance of winning.

"Unfortunately, Jamie Miller is not available and I think he would have fancied his chances. But Damon Coulson, George Forder, Craig Smith, Rob Moore, James Cass and others have put their names down to play already.

"Will Pepper will be playing too, off scratch, and he is playing great golf at the moment. James has stepped up a level this year and is off a one handicap but I guess the ones to watch - the three lower handicaps at the club - are Damon, George and Craig.

"All three have had success in Yorkshire Order of Merit events and on a regional scale. They know the course well and will have high expectations - George especially as he is turning professional at the end of the year."

Pearce added: "Craig is a nice golfer and a nice young man. He had a long time at Pike Hills, which I know he enjoyed. At the same time, he enjoys the challenge of a slightly longer golf course and a lot of the competitions he plays around the country are at venues similar to ours.

"Damon has come off the back of two great wins in our club championship and strokeplay event. He has set his stall out this year to play in more national events and he has had relative success but I think he would like to push forward."

On the changes to the format this year, Pearce said the aim was to make the climax more exciting.

He explained: "The tournament is on a rota and we last had it in 2008 when it was matchplay. This year it is becoming a strokeplay event for four rounds. It will be interesting to see how that pans out.

"The last day is 36 holes and the top 40 will qualify so, hopefully, you will have the 40 best players in Yorkshire playing 36 holes and it will be really exciting to watch.

"In the past, when it has been matchplay on the last day, you have had a third/fourth play-off going out an hour before the final and both playing 36. It would be supported by some of our members and some family members of those players but it wouldn't create too much of an atmosphere, where I think the idea of this will see 40 players, caddies, family members, supporters and spectators.

"I am hoping it will create a bit of an atmosphere for the guys coming in last with a chance of winning. I wouldn't be surprised if we get a few people in watching."