A Cumbrian chef has admitted he was more nervous on the tee than preparing to cook for the Queen after roasting the opposition to secure himself a Turkey treat with victory in Europe's largest pro-am.
Bob Thornton found the perfect recipe for success with Keswick professional Gary Watson to secure a one-shot victory at Blackpool's St Annes Old Links to reach the grand final of the PGA National Pro-Am Championship.
The 55-year-old eight handicapper and Watson , who has been pro at the club for five years, carded a six-under-par 66 to hold off the challenge of Nelson pro Simon Eaton and Douglas Meek and Lytham Green Drive's Andrew Lancaster and his partner Franco Fratazzi.
Their win has assured them of an all expenses paid five-star trip to the Sirene Beach & Hotel Resort and Antalya Golf Club at the end of the year, where the 36-hole grand final will played over the PGA Sultan Course.
Thornton, who works at Underscar Manor Hotel in Applesthwaite and has been playing golf for 20 years, admitted the pro-am brought more nerves than a regal banquet.
"I'm due to cook for the Queen when she visits the region next week and I have to admit that playing in the pro-am is more nervous than preparing to cook for the Queen," said Thornton.
"I felt it out there but I didn't tense up even though I knew we were in with a chance. I usually tighten up but today that wasn't the case.
"We arrived feeling quite confident and so it's wonderful to have won and I'm really looking forward to the getting out to the final, but that's when it all starts again."
Their winning round hardly got off to an ideal start with a bogey at the second, but it proved to be their only dropped shot of the day with Thornton scoring a nett eagle at five and birdie at six, before the pair added four more birdies on the homeward nine to clinch top spot.
Watson, who hailed the skills of his amateur partner, admitted that competitive golf wasn't top of his agenda this year with his home life dominated by a nine-month-old baby.
"It's great to be going to the final but it really hasn't sunk in yet as I haven't played that much this year and wasn't really going to," he said.
"I've got a new baby at home and the plan was to spend as much time at home but now I've got to go back and break the news I'm going away for a few days."
He added: "My record hasn't been that great in the tournament as I haven't got close in the six or seven times so maybe it was my time.
"But it was down to teamwork as Bob and I gelled really well. Neither of us really hit any trouble - apart from a bogey at the second - but we had plenty of time to recover from that.
"Bob played a key role and used his shots well to score so I can't take any credit for that, but what we did do is not come in at the same holes."
The winning pair will compete against 15 other regional finalists during the five-day five-star trip to the Sirene Beach & Hotel Resort on the shores of Turkey's Mediterranean Coast from November 30 to December 4.
The tournament, which attracts more than 100,000 entries, is now in its 24th staging and has been held in Portugal, Spain, Grand Bahamas and Sardinia prior to Turkey last year.