Natalie aiming for another Clarke victory

Natalie Clarke will be hoping to add to the family trophy cabinet when she plays in the WPGA Lombard Trophy regional final at Dunham Forest Golf Club.

Clarke - wife of Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup winner Lee - will team up with Beeston Fields Golf Club amateur Margaret Cobb at the Cheshire venue on Monday, July 25.

The Nottinghamshire pairing will be aiming to land one of three spaces up for grabs which will take qualifiers through to the Coca Cola supported grand final being staged at the impressive Pestana Golf Resort in Vila Sol from September 22-23.

Clarke believes it is a positive step to give the women’s game its own prestige pro-am event.

“It’s a great idea. It gives us another high profile PGA tournament to play in and having a Portugal final to aim for is a great incentive for both the professional and the amateur players,” she said.

“The women professionals badly need this sort of tournament in their calendar. It’s a well-run event that will be welcomed.”

Cobb, a retired teacher from Nottingham, says it is good to have Natalie at the club.

“It’s the first year we’ve had a lady professional here and the reason was to promote the women’s game,” said the 27 handicapper.

“Natalie fits right in of course with Lee being the head pro here for a while now.

“It’s good that we have this chance of getting to a Portugal final. It’s scary and exciting at the same time!”

But Natalie feels there is a long way to go before she matches up to husband Lee who was also part of the winning team in the PGA Fourball Championship at Carden Park last year.

“I won’t be trying to take him on,” she said. “But it would be nice to do well.”

Natalie wants to impress in the event after suffering a spell out of action through injury.

“This is really the first year I’ve been back playing again,” she said.

“I’ve had problems with my wrist but I feel I’m over the worst of that now.”

Also taking part at Dunham Forest will be: Stephanie Hall/Ann Hesling (Sitwell Park Golf Club);   Eleanor Robinson/Gill Swaby-Ward Leeds Golf Centre; Louise Davis/Megan Hancock (North Wales Golf Club); and Sarah Burnell/Annette Poynton (Burnham & Berrow Golf Club).