With Chris Wood's 11th hour withdrawal from the English Amateur Championship after deciding to turn pro, former England Boys captain Farren Keenan will be bidding to become the latest StrokeAverage.com client to land the crown.

Chris Wood, winner of the Silver Medal at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club just a week ago, was strongly tipped to emulate another Bristolian, Mark Sanders, who won the English Amateur when it was last staged at Woodhall Spa Golf Club, the home of the English Golf Union.

Farren Keenan, from Sunningdale Golf Club, claimed his first major silverware in six years when winning The Berkshire Trophy in June.

He had become something of a forgotten man from the ranks of English junior golf after captaining his country at under 18 level in 2002.

Since then the 24-year-old, who spent four years on a golf scholarship at the University of Texas, and is coached by Claude Harmon & Gary Smith, has been working hard on his game, having used StrokeAverage.com's servcices since his days as a Surrey County Golf Union junior.

Farren Keenan was a member of the Surrey County Golf Union team that won the English Boys Finals in 2000, playing alongside Zane Scotland, Ross McGowan and James Heath - who are now all playing on the PGA European Tour and Challenge Tour.

James Heath became the third StrokeAverage.com client to land the English Amateur when he beat David Horsey in the final at Holinwell Golf Club in 2004. David Horsey has picked up two wins to date on the Challenge Tour this season.

Richard Finch, who has won twice already on the PGA European Tour this season to put himself into contention for a Ryder Cup place, carried off the silverware when the English Amateur was held at Walton Heath Golf Club in 2002.

Twelve months earlier, Cornwall's Scott Godfrey became the first when beating Simon Robinson in the final at Saunton Golf Club.

Farren Keenan is not the only StrokeAverage.com user hoping to have a big week on the Lincolnshire golf course considered the best inland track in the country.

Wiltshire's England A squad member Miles Mackman came through the same junior academy at Swindon‘s Broome Manor Golf Club that produced David Howell - StrokeAverage.com's most successful client to date on the PGA European Tour.

Miles Mackman won the Lagonda Trophy at Gog Magog Golf Club and the West of England Amateur Matchplay Championship at Burnham & Berrow last year.

The former two-time Wiltshire Boys Golf Champion was fourth - four shots behind Farren Keenan - at The Berkshire last month.

But Miles Mackman also walked away with one of the most prestigious trophies in golf. His total was good enough to give him the Philip Scrutton Jug for the best aggregate score in The Berkshire and Brabazon Trophies.

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