Northern pairings eye Fulford success

Retired teacher Roy Dawson is chomping at the bit as he prepares for his biggest day of golf in over 30 years of playing the sport.

The 73-year-old Otley Golf Club member, who plays off a handicap of 18, is set to be the elder statesman in the Lombard Trophy regional final at Fulford on June 5 after he won his club qualifying round.

He will now play alongside his club professional Steven Tomkinson, above, for the chance to take part in the £43,600 final over the King’s Course at Gleneagles between September 2-3.

Passionate cricket fan Dawson only bought his first set of golf clubs so that he could become a playing companion for his son who, aged 13, decided to take up the sport when was handed his own set of second-hand irons.    

Yet he was soon addicted, and continues to play twice a week despite recently moving away from his previous home in West Cumbria to retire to Ilkley.

“I’m really excited to play in the Lombard Trophy,” he enthused. “For me, as an amateur, it’s like being given the opportunity to play cricket at Old Trafford or Headingly.

“My qualifying round was one of the best rounds of golf I have ever played – they honestly don’t come along like that very often. 

“I didn’t find out straight away that I had won though. It wasn’t until a couple of days later that I received the phone call but I was really happy when I did, I just started dancing!”

A devoted former Music and English teacher, Dawson has already made preparations to learn the Fulford course and has fittingly arranged to take his son, who is also a member at Otley, for a practice round at the York venue.

“I am planning a practice round with my son,” he said. “I want to do well and have never had the chance to play the course before.

“Hopefully we can win at Fulford because it would be unbelievable to have the opportunity to play at Gleneagles.

Also playing at Fulford will be Saltburn Golf Club member Paul Conyard and his PGA Professional playing partner Michael Howes.

An offshore worker from Middlesbrough, Conyard, who has a young family, regularly spends weeks at a time away from home.

Yet the six handicapper tries not to let this affect his golf, spending much of his time on shore on the golf course perfecting his swing.

“I play a lot of golf when I’m not working,” Conyard admitted.

“Obviously my family are the priority and I make sure I spend a lot of time with them while I’m back, but I try to get down at the club and play as often as I can.

“I took up golf as a kid after my dad got me into it. He was a very keen golfer, he still is, and it’s something that has stayed with me ever since.

“I’m looking forward to playing at Fulford, it’s a real achievement to get there so hopefully the weather will be nice and we will can go out and do well.

“It would mean a lot to get the chance to play at Gleneagles. I’ve never played there before so I would love to get through, but I know we’ve got a long way to go yet!”

Other pairs competing at the Fulford qualifier include: Philip Darlison and Paul Costello (a) (Roundhay), Nigel Perry and Greg Fee (a) (Abbeydale), Steve Mackinder and Paul Cort (a) (Cave Castle), Alex James and Kevin Solly (a) (Catterick), and Neil Whinham and David Lucas (a) (Whitburn).