Marsden eyes sporty September

A secondary school vice principal from Louth could be in line for a sport-filled September should he progress from the Lombard Trophy regional final at Fulford.

Paul Marsden, 55, will tee up at the North Yorkshire venue with his Kenwick Park PGA Professional Michael Langford for a crack at Europe’s biggest pro-am on July 2.

Should they win the regional event they will secure a place in the £80,000 grand final at Gleneagles on September 1-2 less than two weeks before sports-mad Marsden is due to take part in the Great North Run.

Marsden, who will be running in Newcastle to raise money for the Anthony Nolan blood cancer charity, has been taking golf lessons with PGA pro Langford for the last seven years.

And the former Coventry City youth team goalkeeper, who plays off a handicap of 20, credited his playing partner with helping him to make it through his club qualifier and secure his place in the event.

“I hadn’t played much in the weeks leading up to our qualifier, but I did have some lessons with Michael,” he explained.

“They obviously helped, although I was still very surprised to win it. It was only by one shot in the end so it was very close!

“I’m both nervous and excited now about going to Fulford. I’ve never played in anything on this scale before.

“As amazing as it would be to qualify for Gleneagles my focus is completely on Fulford at the moment and doing our best there.

“If we don’t make it then of course we’ll wish whoever does all the best going up there.

“It’s an amazing venue and somewhere that I’ve been lucky enough to visit and play in the past. I’d love to get the chance to go back.”

Marsden first got into golf after getting the chance to caddy for some friends close to his Lincolnshire home.

“I watched it on TV and then gradually got into it after doing a bit of caddying,” he explained.

“Since then I’ve been able to get my son playing the game which was nice, although he’s a better player than me now!

“He’s had to curb his playing a bit since finishing at university but I’m hoping he’ll pick it up properly again once he’s settled into his new job up in Newcastle.

“It’s a great sport to be able to play and one which can be so rewarding – it might even help him in his career.”