Hugh drums up Cawder win to book Portugal spot

Drumpellier Golf Club amateur Hugh McIntyre was a happy and relieved man after securing a place in the Lombard Trophy final in Portugal. 

McIntyre, left, partnered PGA Professional Ian Taylor to card an eight-under-par round of 62 to win the regional final at Cawder Golf Club by one shot ahead of Ken Campbell and Lee Mathieson of Machrihanish Golf Club.

The Drumpellier duo will now go on to play in the £41,500 Coca-Cola supported final at Pestana Golf Resort, Vila Sol, from September 22-23.

But McIntyre, a quantity surveyor from Coatbridge in Lanarkshire, admitted he was worried that the pair might lose out at the end when he dropped a shot at the 18th hole at the Bishopbriggs course.

“We started really well with two birdies and a nett eagle,” said the 58-year-old who plays off a handicap of seven.

“But I missed a stupid putt at the end and you hope it doesn’t cost you. I wouldn’t have felt too good if we’d lost out because of that, but it was okay in the end. I think we played well, Ian saw us through to a good score and we deserved it.

“Now we’re both looking forward to going to Portugal for the final. I was really happy with the win.”

Taylor has played in the final a decade ago at Vale de Lobo and was delighted to seal his return to the event.

“We built a great platform for ourselves and Hugh started well,” said Taylor.

“I was glad that our bogey - the only one in our round - didn’t have any effect on us. I wouldn’t have wanted Hugh to go through that, I was keeping him in the dark about how well we were doing, I think it’s important to take the pressure off the amateur during these events so that they can enjoy themselves.

“But I knew nine under par would’ve been enough, at eight-under you worry a little bit but we’d done enough. Hugh was gobsmacked that we’d done as well as we did.

“He’s on a bit of a winning streak anyway. On the day he won the medal to qualify for the regional final he also won the club raffle!"