DEFENDING champion Lee Thompson will head the Dorset contingent when the Dudsbury Masters begins today.

The 45-year-old, who has represented Dudsbury for almost 20 years, has set a double target this season.

He hopes to retain both the Masters crown he won so impressively and the PGA West Region’s order of merit title, which offers the chance to play in European Tour events.

Thompson was the region’s top player last year and qualified for the play-offs in Turkey, although he failed to qualify to compete in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

That honour went to James Ruth (China Fleet), the leading west money-winner last year, who is also in the field.

There will be a festival atmosphere at the 36-hole event which has attracted more than 100 players, including almost 20 from Dorset.

The formidable home county contingent is led by Gary Emerson (Remedy Oak), once a European Tour winner and now a prominent member of the European Senior Tour.

Also set to compete are Martyn Thompson (Parkstone) and former Dudsbury winners Graham Howell (Ferndown Forest) and Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre, Weymouth).

Others include head professional Adam Sawyer with Dudsbury pros Mark Wiggett and Matthew Williams, as well as Paul Jones (Ashley Wood), Andrew Windsor (Knighton Heath), Chris Fawcett (Bulbury Woods), Ben Cannon (Playgolf Bournemouth), Dom Narramore (Dorset Golf & Country Club), Kieron Fowler (Lyme Regis), Tom Doughty (Crane Valley) and Bournemouth-based Danny Lee (Rushmore).

Scott Drummond, winner of the PGA Championship at Wentworth in 2004 and now playing regularly in the region, makes his Dudsbury debut. So do Ryder Cup player Phillip Price and multiple European Tour winner Stephen Dodd.

Matthew Dearden (Cardiff), who beat Thompson in a play-off in 2012, Liam Bond (St Pierre) and Toby Hunt (St Mellons), winner of the west assistants’ championship for the past two years, should also be strong contenders.

Last year’s PGA champion, Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge), won at Dudsbury in 2013.

Former European Tour regular Stuart Little (Minchinhampton) and Richard O'Hanlon (St Kew) should also be in the frame.