AT least six current and previous champions will be in action when the English Men’s Mid Amateur Championship for the Logan Trophy is played at The Worcestershire Golf Club at Malvern Wells starting today until Sunday.

Thomas Burley (Burnham and Berrow, Somerset) will defend the title he won at Saunton last year after a two-hole play-off against the previous champion, Neil Williams (Walton Heath, Surrey). But Williams isn’t playing this time.

Burley, who will tee off at 9.09am in round one, will be joined at The Worcestershire by five former champions, Nigel Chesters (Hawkstone Park, Shropshire and Herefordshire), Paul Griffiths (Sandwell Park, Staffordshire), Colin Edwards (Bath, Somerset), Martin Young (Brokenhurst Manor, Hampshire, IoW and CI), and Danny Holmes (Addington Palace, Surrey).

Chesters shared the title with Griffiths in 2005 and both are regular entrants as is Young, who won at Hayling in 2006, while Holmes was champion at Sherwoood Forest three years ago.

Edwards, the victor at Minchinhampton in 2007, was England international captain from 2009 until last year and was a joint winner of the Brabazon Trophy in 1995 at Hillside.

John Kemp (Woburn, BB&O), an England international in 2003, has come close to the title, finishing runner-up at Shifnal in 2008, and will be looking to go one better this time, while Ian Crowther (Royal Lytham and St Anne’s, Lancashire) and James Wallis (Burhill, Surrey), who were joint third last year, are also competing.

Among other regulars in the field are Roger Smithies (Manchester, Lancashire), Tony Cheese (Sandwell Park, Staffordshire), and Andrew Inglis (Sunningdale Artisans, Surrey).

The Logan Trophy is open to players over 35 years of age and is played over 54 holes with a cut after 36, the leading 45 players and ties progressing to the final round.