Sherry faces stiff test in Spey Valley

GORDON Sherry's golfing comeback faces its first major test in the Northern Open, which gets underway today, at Spey Valley in Aviemore.

The 35-year-old from Kilmarnock, who has returned to competitive action on the Tartan Tour this season after four years away from tournament golf, has produced a series of encouraging displays on the Pro-Am scene recently, but this week's tournament will present Sherry with a rigorous 72-hole examination.

The former Amateur champion, who has notched two top-ten finishes on the domestic circuit over the past month, forms part of a 135-strong field for a celebrated event which has suffered financially after losing its sponsor. The first prize, which was 8,000 in 2008, has been reduced to around 2,500 while the contest will be staged over three days, with the closing 36-holes being squeezed in on Thursday.

Sherry will be joined in the line-up by Irishman Ronan Rafferty, the 1989 European No1, and former Northern Open winners Murray Urquhart, Gordon Law, Fraser Mann and Scott Henderson.

Stirling's Craig Lee, a two-time winner on the German EPD Tour this season, also competes.