Goodey in the doghouse after Lombard win

Ben Goodey, left, will miss his wife’s birthday after qualifying for the final of the Lombard Trophy with a stunning 59 at Ashridge.

The Manor of Groves PGA Professional flourished alongside club member Robert Jones, a 27-year-old banker from Theydon Bois, as they secured a place in the £41,500 grand final at Vila Sol in Portugal.

The duo dovetailed perfectly as they secured a four shot win over their nearest challengers, Simon Harrison and Fraser Allen of Gog Magog Golf Club.

A birdie, eagle start set them on their way and by the seventh hole the deadly duo were already seven-under-par.

A solitary blip at the eighth where they dropped a shot briefly halted their momentum but eagles at 10 and 15 plus three other birdies saw them clinch victory in style.

“I don’t think the wife is too happy,” Goodey confessed. “But hopefully she might let me off if I come home with a nice cheque!

“I felt me and Rob dovetailed really nicely out there, if one of us was struggling on a hole the other one always came in.

“It was part of the game plan to try to take the pressure off each other and, credit to Rob, I had a few birdie putts where I had nothing to lose.

“That makes life a lot easier and we’ll be looking to carry that on in the final.”

The duo played together in this event last year at the regional final at Old Fold Manor, on that occasion missing out on a place in the final on countback.

But Goodey was almost denied the chance to bid for a place in this year’s final after tearing a ligament in his ankle in the weeks running up to the event. 

“I couldn’t believe it – I went over on it playing football,” he recalled. “For a while I didn’t think I was going to be ready in time to play.

“I could feel it on the way round and felt like I was limping a bit – I was trying to hold it together but at the same time was relying on Rob a bit too.

“I’m really glad I made it and now I’m really looking forward to the final in Portugal.

“I go out there with friends every year and we go out again this year just a couple of weeks after the final.

“I get the feeling that trip will be a little bit more relaxed though!”