Lombard returns to PGA National Pro-Am

Club golfers and their PGA professionals will have an added incentive to put in some extra practice ahead of the coming season with the return of the popular Lombard Trophy.

The leading UK asset finance company Lombard has signed a three year agreement to sponsor the PGA National Pro-Am Championship culminating in a September grand final over Gleneagles' PGA Centenary Course - host to the 2014 Ryder Cup where the likes of Europe's heroes Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy will do battle in 18 months time.

The prize fund has been increased by £30,000 to £80,000 and features 16 regional finals with amateurs qualifying to team up with their club PGA pro by winning their local monthly medal or Stableford.

An exciting line up of regional final venues will start at Kedleston Park on June 3 and finish at Golf at Goodwood on July 29 with the following sandwiched in between: Saunton, West Lancs, Kingswood, Orsett, Bovey Castle, The Island, Dunham Forest, Crieff, Ladybank, Kings Lynn, Fulford, Studley Wood, Machynys Peninsula and Little Aston.

Lombard raised the profile of the event having previously sponsored the tournament for 12 years from 1995-2006 when it regularly attracted entries from more than 1,100 golf clubs across the UK.

It will once again be known as the Lombard Trophy while an increased prize fund will see the winning professional receive £12,000 with the runner up receiving £7,500.

PGA chief executive Sandy Jones said: "We are delighted to welcome back Lombard as headline sponsor of this magnificent tournament.

"This is a unique event in that it offers PGA professionals a rare opportunity to team up with an amateur partner and represent their club in a national event.

"And I am especially pleased that Lombard will be renewing their relationship with the PGA National Pro-Am Championship because during their previous sponsorship they took the tournament to new heights making it the largest of its kind in Europe.

"With an increased prize fund and an attractive line-up of leading regional and grand final venues planned, The PGA is looking forward to a new and successful era of the Lombard Trophy."

Lombard renewed its ties with The PGA back in 2010 when it took over sponsorship of the PGA Pro-Captain Challenge as part of its strategy to reach a wider business community through golf for its asset finance offering division.

Of the announcement, Andy Hart, managing director of Lombard's Large Corporate & Specialist Asset Finance division, said: "Our long-standing relationship with The PGA is a special one for us, and it is with great pride and excitement that we will again host the Lombard Trophy in 2013.

"We look forward to all the great entertainment that it has to offer, and to being part of a tournament that has such a positive impact on this sport."