NORTH Yorkshire's Emma Duggleby was back on the trophy trail today.

Just days after her narrow defeat in the final of the Yorkshire County championships, Malton and Norton Golf Club's Duggleby was among the band of favourites for the English Close Amateur golf championship when it opened today at Aldeburgh in Suffolk.

Three years ago Duggleby won the English crown and she is the only previous winner in the field, which opens with two strokeplay qualifying rounds to determine the leading 32 players who will then compete in match-play through to Saturday's final.

Among Duggleby's rivals will be Alex Keighley, who pipped her to the county title last weekend, plus a strong north Yorkshire contingent of Ganton duo Sara Garbutt and Naomi Edwards, plus Katie Dobson of The Oaks.

Updated: 11:15 Tuesday, May 20, 2003