Channels pair switch on in day of drama at Kings Lynn

Channels Golf Club professional Jason Levermore won through to the Lombard Trophy final at Gleneagles - then left to be with his pregnant wife after she went into labour.

Levermore teamed up with amateur partner Ben Steed for the qualifying event at Kings Lynn Golf Club.

And it was a day of high drama for Levermore who sank a 25 foot putt to seal a trip to the famous Ryder Cup venue.

But no sooner had he come off the 18^th green than he was heading back to Essex where he and his wife were expecting a daughter.

The Channels duo carded an eight-under-par round of 64 to pip Gary Carter and John Mayle, of Essex’s Five Lakes Hotel Golf & Country Club, by one shot.

Levermore and Steed will now play in the £80,000 final played over the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles between September 1-2.

And for Steed, aged 25 and from Chelmsford, it was a significant win as he has only been playing the game for four years.

But Levermore could not stay around at the end to join in the celebrations.

“Jason holed a putt to put us into the final, then had to dash off to be with his wife straight after, it’s not something you see every day,” said Steed.

“We knew we had to make a birdie at the 18^th, if we’d been level at the top of the leaderboard I think we’d have lost on countback.

“I was ecstatic by the end, and over the moon to be going to Gleneagles.

“Jason did most of the scoring, but I think I contributed and did my bit too.”

Levermore - who won last year’s PGA Pro-Captain Championship Final - said he did not find out about his wife until after the event.

“I was checking every couple of holes, and it was okay,” he said.

“Then at the end she said she was in labour but didn’t want to bother me during the event!

“She was eight days overdue so I knew something might happen.

“But I wanted to play in this event as I wanted to give the family something if I got to the final as the prize money is so good.”

Levermore admitted the pressure was on at the 18^th hole.

“I knew I had to hole it and it went in perfectly,” he said.

“I don’t usually get too excited during a round, but it’s nice to know I was able to hole a putt when I really needed to.”