Nuneaton duo one step from Gleneagles

A sports-mad Nuneaton cricket trader is set to tee up for his chance to finally experience what it’s like to play at 2014 Ryder Cup venue Gleneagles.

Jon Arshad, 34, was supposed to play a round at the prestigious venue last year with his brother before the Scottish snow put paid to their chances of experiencing the fairways of the Perthshire resort.

Arshad will play alongside his Nuneaton Golf Club PGA Professional Craig Phillips in the regional final of the Lombard Trophy at Little Aston on May 29.

The winners will then go forward to play in the grand final over Gleneagles’ King’s Course on September 1-2.

The championship carries a total prize fund of £80,000 and was won last year by St Kew pairing Richard O’Hanlon and Andy Jones.

Arshad, who has been playing golf for six years and has a handicap of 13, admitted he was surprised to qualify from his club event, were he carded a nett score of 67.

“I honestly didn’t think I’d done well enough to qualify,” he said.

“My round was going well but on the back nine I got into a bit of trouble around a tree and hit an eight.

“I thought that was that, especially as there was another guy closing in on me.

“But luckily I made it and now I’m really excited to head to Little Aston for the regional final. I’ve played a practice round already and the course is amazing.

“It would be great to go to Gleneagles after missing out on the chance to play there last year – I’ve heard that the courses really are top notch.”

Arshad has been playing golf since he was a young child alongside football, rugby and cricket – but he confessed to having one hobby which tops the lot.

“Me and my girlfriend are aiming to visit all 50 States in America,” he explained.

“We’ve done 36 over the last few years so we’re well on the way, and we’ve got a trip to Wisconsin planned in December.

“I’ve even had golf involved in some of the trips – I’ve managed to go to watch a few events on the PGA Tour while we’ve been over there.”

Other pairings competing in the regional final at Little Aston include: Rob Macey and Neil Robinson (a) (Norwood Park), Matthew Davies and Sam Higgins (a) (Vale of Llangollen), Richard Dance and Steve Boffin (a) (Bloxwich) and Rob Challis and Paul Cartwright (a) (Atherstone).