A formalism based on a chiral quark model (χQM) approach complemented with a one-gluon exchange model, to take into account the breakdown of the SU (6) ⊗ O(3) symmetry, is presented.The configuration mixing of wave functions for nucleon and resonances are derived. With few adjustable parameters, differential cross-section and polarized beam asymmetry for the γ p → η p process are calculated and successfully compared with the data in the centre-of-mass energy range from threshold up to 2 GeV. The known resonances S 11 (1535), S 11 (1650), P 13 (1720), D 13 (1520), and F 15 (1680), as well as two new S 11 and D 15 resonances are found to be dominant in the reaction mechanism. Besides, connections among the scattering amplitudes of the χQM approach and the helicity amplitudes, as well as decay widths of resonances are established. Possible contributions from the so-called "missing resonances" are investigated and found to be negligible.