ROB Smith leads a strong local challenge for the Fineturf Midland Professional Championship at Belton Woods.

The championship, which is the oldest professional golf tournament in the world, takes place tomorrow and Thursday at the Grantham course.

"I haven't played in this tournament for a few years now," said Smith. "But I'm looking forward to it as I have been playing reasonably well."

Smith scorched round Notts (Hollinwell) earlier this month in 65 shots to win a Notts PGA pro-am.

"That was probably the best I've played in a long time," he said. "The score could have been anything as I let a few shots get away.

"I had eight birdies and one bogey, and I three-putted the 12th."

Smith will be joined at Belton Woods by his club colleague and namesake Shaun Smith who has also been in good form this summer.

He shot a new course record at Radcliffe-on-Trent on his way to winning the Notts PGA pro-am.

The two Smiths will be joined by Craig Swinburn (Notts), Mark Smith (Maywood), Ian Walley (Shirland), Darren Bartlett (Erewash) and Stuart Betteridge (Kilton Forest) as they try to wrest the title from the 2010 Midland Region captain, Cameron Clark (Moor Hall), who will be defending his title.

The 78-man field will play 36 holes around the Lakes Course at the De Vere Belton Woods.

In July, 18 players qualified for the tournament in a pre-qualifying event held around the same Lakes Course. That event was won by Willesley Park GC's Edward Martin with a fine four under 68.

Mark Smith looked like he had the victory in the bag, but a double bogey on 17 meant he had to settle for second place.

The event is also the penultimate Order of Merit event of the 2010 PGA Midland Region season.

With the Order of Merit still up for grabs, Mathew Morris of Walmley Golf Club is leading with Clark in second place.

It is a big month for Belton Woods, as they also hosted the Super 60s tournament last week.

Their professional Iain Fulton said: "We had the Super 60s which we haven't hosted as long as I can remember – and now the Professionals' Championship which we have had here for some time."