EXAMINER Matchplay and Overseas Challenge champion Andrew Mear will face another former Overseas winner, Brian Verity, in the first round of this year’s tournament.

Cleckheaton member Mear won the Matchplay title 12 months ago at Crosland Heath, and subsequently went to Fuengirola and won the Overseas title at the Mijas complex on the Costa del Sol.

He will start the first leg of the home and away opening round in defence of the Matchplay title at Woodhall Hills, where he will come up against Verity, who landed the Overseas crown back in 2005 in Tenerife.

Other former Matchplay winners include Fixby’s Nick Wilson (2004 winner) who meets Marsden’s Arthur Henshaw in the opening round, and Paddy Carmody (2008 winner) from Woodsome Hall, takes on Bradley Park’s Daz Johnston.

The first 18 holes of the opening round will be played at the first-named player in the draw, before the venues are reversed for the concluding round (with scores carried over).

Should any tie be all square at the end of 36 holes, sudden death will decide the outcome, down the first extra hole and so on (unless the club professional designates any hole other than the first).

The competition is played with full handicaps, although the maximum allowance is 20.

The final of this year’s tournament will be held at Woodsome Hall, on Thursday, September 20.

It is the responsibility of the first-named player to contact his opponent to arrange a convenient date and time to play.

First-round ties should be completed no later than June 11, with the results submitted to David Lockwood at the Examiner (Tel 01484 437757) – all competitors will be notified by post along with a copy of the competition rules.

The full draw is:

First round: Simon Whitham (Crosland Heath, 17) v Jon Taylor (Woolley, 14); Jonny Heyes (Huddersfield, 6) v Gary Shuttleworth (Bradley Hall, 11); David Law (Meltham, 9) v Tommy Ward (Longley Park, 14); Ian Colleton (Longley Park, 16) v Shaun Acaster (Woodhall Hills, 16); Brian Verity (Woodhall Hills, 14) v Andrew Mear (Cleckheaton 8.5); Steve Whiteley (Meltham 12) v Steve Williams (Longley Park, 15); Steve Hnatkiwskyj (Longley Park, 14) v Corie Johnson (Woolley, 20). David Makin (Outlane, 14) v Jack Thewlis (Meltham, 14); Chris Holmes (Meltham, 7) v Peter Sykes (Crosland Heath, 19); Keith Stones (Huddersfield, 19) v Noel Ward (Crosland Heath, 17); Ian Saxton (Meltham, 7) v Paul Marsland (Crosland Heath, 12); Daz Johnston (Bradley Park, 12) v Paddy Carmody (Woodsome Hall, 16); Richard Wimpenny (Crosland Heath, 15) v Michael Cooke (Meltham, 14); Arthur Henshaw (Marsden, 20) v Nick Wilson (Huddersfield, 5); Eddie Doherty (Bradley Park, 12) v Denis Walters (Blackley, 13).