PAUL CARMAN makes a final bid for PGA North Region success this season in the Spirotech Manchester Open at Marriott Worsley Park on Tuesday.

Hebden Bridge’s David Astin, Robert Kershaw, the Mirfield Golf Range professional, and Willow Valley’s Lee Shepherd and Nathan Stead also challenge for the fourth North Region major of the year.

The two-day event concludes the chase for the Order of Merit title, although none of the local quintet have a chance of landing that crown.

Only the current top 10 can claim it and Fixby’s Carman stands 33rd, Shepherd 70th, Astin 82nd and Stead 89th, with Kershaw unplaced.

The top three in the final merit list will qualify for the Srixon PGA Play-offs at Royal Liverpool, where places in some of the leading European Tour events next season will be at stake.

Holding pole position is Selby’s Nick Ludwell, with 600 points, but he can be overtaken. His closest rival is North Region champion Alex Belt, from Bridlington Links, who is 71 behind.

Lurking ominously in fourth spot and six points further back is Mossock Hall’s David Shacklady, who topped the Order of Merit last year.

Manchester Open title holder David Smith, an assistant at Swinton Park, has struggled with a back problem for most of the season but the won the Lancashire PGA Championship at Hesketh this week with a course-record five-under-par 67 in the second round.

Leeds Cup winner Scott Barber, from Waterton Park, Wakefield, and The Rock winner Jonathan Graham, from Silloth-on-Solway, go for a second major win of the year.

The 36-hole tournament is preceded by a sell-out pro-am on Monday.

Order of Merit leaders: 600pts Nick Ludwell (Selby), 529 Alex Belt (Bridlington Links), 471 Andrew Barnett (North Wales GR), 465 David Shacklady (Mossock Hall), 441 Jonathan Lupton (Middlesbrough), 407 Vincent Guest (Teesside), 394 Jonathan Graham (Silloth), 385 David Clark (Morpeth), 376 John Harrison (Matfen Hall), 326 George Cowan (Westerhope).