Fawcett fights back from bad health to tackle Fulford

Far Grange Golf Club amateur John Fawcett will tee off in the Lombard Trophy two years after undergoing cancer treatment.

And the amateur player hopes some of Darren Leng’s success in the competition will rub off on him.

Fawcett will team up with Leng in the qualifying event to be held at Fulford Golf Club near York on June 7.

But the 64-year-old has only returned to the game after spending time in hospital treating his health problems.

Now he joins Skipsea professional Leng (pictured below) who is aiming for a third appearance in the final as a former champion who won the competition outright in 2009.

This year, the pair hope to put themselves in with a chance to going to  Portugal for the £41,450, Coca-Cola and Pestana Resorts supported, National Pro-Am grand final which will be played at the Vila Sol resort in the Algarve between September 20-21.

“I retired at 60 from my job as a maintenance engineer for 45 years and I’ve had health problems over the past two years but I’m coming back now,” said 19-handicapper Fawcett, from Leeds.

“I had cancer, there was a tumour in my stomach so I didn’t play a lot, I missed most of 2016 because I was in hospital. But I’m doing okay, I play golf twice a week and I love it.

“I started playing when I was 46 and I’ve got a long connection with Far Grange. As for me, my game’s a bit up and down at the moment, but I'’m really looking forward to Fulford. It’s a course I’ve never played before but Darren knows it well. I’ve never actually played with him before, but I've been watching his scores and he's playing well."

Other teams playing at Fulford include: Aran Wainwright and Todd Hughes (Yorkshire Golf Club); Alexandra Keighley and Robin Peters (Huddersfield Golf Club); Darren Pearce and Robert Raine (Barnard Castle Golf Club);  Michael Ure and Mark Snaith (Billingham Golf Club); Graham Bailey and Neil Allen (Doncaster Golf Club); Adrian Ambler and Phil Stones (Low Laithes Golf Club) and Gary Vickers and Don Miller (Tyneside Golf Club).

For a full list of pairings for the Lombard Trophy Regional Final at Fulford click here.