Barnham Broom sweep aside rivals

Norfolk railway technician Paul Dodman, right, stayed firmly on track at Thetford Golf Club to book his place in the Lombard Trophy Final.

Dodman partnered Barnham Broom Golf Club PGA Professional Alan Hemsley to card an impressive 11 under par round of 61.

It was a close run thing as their score was matched by Essex-based PGA Cup player Jason Levermore and his Channels Golf Club amateur Paul Castle.

But the Barnham duo produced a superb back nine, which included three nett eagles, and they won through on countback.

The top two teams finished one shot ahead of Stowmarket Golf Club’s Jonathan Markham  and John Jameson.

Dodman and Hemsley will now play in the £41,500 grand final. The Lombard sponsored tournament, supported by Coca Cola is being held at beautiful Pestana Golf Resort in Vila Sol from September 22-23.

But for the 29-year-old Dereham-based Dodman, it is a feat he would not have achieved but for a serious football injury suffered five years ago.

“I played for a village team and did my cruciate knee ligament, it kept me off for a year,” said the 18 handicapper.

“So I turned to golf instead. A few of my friends said I wasn’t bad so I said to myself that I would make this the year I’d give it a go, I got all the gear and everything.

“My handicap came down from 24 to 18 and I’ll be practising even harder now that we’ve reached the Portugal final.

“But if I hadn’t been injured playing football I’d probably never have taken up the game.”

Hemsley, who will be playing in his first Lombard final, was full of praise for his partner’s display.

“That was some back nine and I knew people would struggle to beat that even when Channels drew level, if anyone could get 12 under par then they’d have deserved to win,” he said.

“But Paul didn’t show any jitters when he was making his putts and he could hit the ball a long way. I was more nervous than him.

“I think his handicap will be in single figures before long as this is the first year he’s played properly.  It was a great day and Portugal is the icing on the cake.”