Former junior champion aims for Lombard success

A former Grove Golf Club junior champion is hoping to roll back the years and claim a place in the Lombard Trophy final.

Amateur Michael Wilson will team up with the club’s PGA Professional Leon Warne (pictured) in the regional final at Machynys Peninsula which will be held on Monday 22 July.

The Porthcawl-based club are aiming to qualify for the £43,600 grand final which will be played over the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles in Scotland - the venue for next year’s Ryder Cup - on September 3-4.

Wilson, aged 31, is a factory machinist and he plays off a handicap of eight.

But despite showing promise as a youngster, he admits reaching the Lombard Trophy regional final at the Llanelli venue is his biggest achievement as an adult golfer.

Wilson explained: “I was the club’s junior champion, I think I was about 16 or 17 at the time but I didn’t really build on that, once I turned 18 I did other things and played more football than golf.

“I’ve come back to it though and this is a really exciting event to be involved in.”

Wilson’s professional partner Warne, 38, is a former Glamorgan county champion, and Bridgend-based Wilson says the prospect of playing at Gleneagles is a huge incentive for them both.

He said: “I’ve only been back at the Grove for 18 months so to get to this stage is really pleasing for me.

“Leon’s a good player who’s got some decent wins to his name so I’m sure I’ll be in good hands on the day.”

Other teams taking part at Machynys Peninsula include Martin Stimson and Clive Rumble (Ashburnham); James Lee and Phil Jones (Caerphilly); John Wills and Lewis Williams (Pontypridd); Peter Evans and Harvey Caesar (Royal Porthcawl); Michael Smedley, and Tim Werswick (Thornbury); Craig Bell and Cliff Anger (Ogbourne Downs).