Yorkshire golf: Title holder Garry Houston chasing Leeds Cup treble at Moor Allerton

Houston won the Leeds Cup for the first time at Oulton Hall in 2012 and repeated the success last year at Moortown in an event begun in 1902, when it was won by six-times Open champion Harry Vardon.

There will be five other past winners in the field: former Huddersfield professional Paul Carman, who won in 1992, Phil Archer (Birchwood) 2000; Jonathan Cheetham (unattached) 2003; John Wells (Beverley) 2007; and David Smith (Swinton Park) 2011.

The event, to be played at Moor Allerton at Moor Allerton on August 24-25, will be preceded by a curtain-raising pro-am on Tuesday, August 23.

Houston concedes that his chances of resurrecting his European Tour career, a goal he set after victory last July, are slim.

“I’ve not given up all hope, but I have to be realistic because at 45 a lot of players hit the ball almost twice as far as me,” he said.

“The thought of travelling and competing with a younger age group does not appeal to me and many of my pals I grew up with, such as Phil Archer and Neil Cheetham, don’t do it anymore.

"Maybe in a year or two I might start looking to play at senior level."

Houston has been struggling with tennis elbow, which has restricted his playing, but he has been “doing a bit of everything” at his club, Carden Park, from teaching, caddie mastering and marshalling.

“It’s kept my mind busy, but I’ve also managed my practice time and with three events to play, I could still qualify for the PGA play-offs again, which was my target at the start of the season," he said.

"I finished fourth in the PGA North Region Championship at Carus Green in June so I’ve already picked up some points.”