Forest Pines pair out to scoop top prize

Ice cream salesman Pep Delduca is hoping to scoop top prize when he plays in the Lombard Trophy regional final at Coventry Golf Club.

The Forest Pines Golf Club amateur  partners experienced PGA Professional Dan Greenwood at the West Midlands venue on July 18 where host pro Martin Sutliff and Peter Helliwell are also in the field.

At stake is a place in the £41,500 grand final of Europe’s largest pro-am which is supported by Coca Cola and is staged over 36 holes at the beautiful Pestana Golf Resort in Vila Sol from September 22-23.

Lincolnshire amateur Delduca has only been playing golf for four years but already has a Telegraph Golf Challenge title to his name.

Now he will team up with former Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup player Greenwood who has tasted victory in this event having lifted the title back in 2008 when it was held in Turkey.

“I only really started playing golf a few years back with friends and I started with a handicap of 24,” said the 34-year-old from Messingham.

“Then I managed to get that down and now I’m around 14. I got the bug and I’ve gradually been playing better and managed to win the Telegraph event in 2014.

“I’ve only just joined Forest Pines and it’s a fantastic place to play - it’s a course that’s staged a lot of PGA tournaments and it’s a great place to be. We’re spoilt!  It was good to win the qualifying event there to get the chances to play alongside Dan at Coventry.

“He’s a terrific player who makes it all look so easy and is a former champion of course.”

When Delduca is not out on the course he can be found inside an ice cream van as part of the family business.

“There was an event at Forest Pines recently, but I was there with the van providing ice creams for people,” he smiled.

“My family came to England around 40 years ago and the business came with them. Now I’m carrying it on.”

Delduca is proud of his Italian roots but he added: “I’m Scunthorpe born and bred!”

Other clubs taking part include Robert Smith and George Orange (Nottinghamshire Golf & Country Club); Ted Maher  and Paul Tudor Great Barr Golf Club);  Ian Walley  and Charlie Hudson (Kedleston Park Golf Club);   Nick Soto and Carl Groom (Northampton Golf Club) and Simon Wood  and Tom Westbury (Scraptoft Golf Club).