Practice makes perfect for amateur Ashmore

A Norfolk property investor is building up an enviable reputation in golf after earning the right to represent his host club in the regional final of Europe’s biggest pro-am.

Chris Ashmore will carry the hopes of King’s Lynn on his shoulders when he partners the venue’s PGA Professional Mike Timson in the Lombard Trophy on July 14.

The winners in the regional heat will guarantee a place in the grand final over Gleneagles’ King’s Course on September 2-3, just days before the Ryder Cup visits the same venue.

Liverpool FC season ticket holder Ashmore qualified for the event, which carries a total prize fund of £80,000, after winning his club qualifying round with a nett score of 70.

And despite having only been a member at the club for three years, the Cheshire-born amateur is hoping the duo’s experience of the course will give them the advantage.

“I’m absolutely thrilled, the chance for a player of my ability to play in an event like this only really comes round once in a lifetime,” he said.

“I didn’t feel my qualifying round was particularly great, it was solid but I always expected that somebody would beat it - so it was a real shock when I got the call to say I had won!

“Up until a couple of years ago I was what you would probably call a fair-weather golfer, I wasn’t a member of a club or anything like that.

“But since moving here I’ve reduced my handicap from 24 to 13 and I can feel my game getting better all the time.”

This improvement has been aided by a career change that revolutionised Ashmore’s life.

The former tobacco company sales executive ditched the security of his nine-to-five job in favour of carving out a dream career as a property investor.

“I love what I do and I’m starting to build up my portfolio. It also gives me that freedom of choice – I work when I want and if the weather is nice then I can just decide I’m going to go for a round of golf instead!

“I often get out two, three, four times a week now and that has really helped me to bring my handicap down.”

Should he need any advice, Ashmore should be able to find it in the form of 22-year-old step-son Luke Johnson, an England A squad amateur who is working towards his dream of becoming a tour pro.

“Luke is a brilliant golfer and he is really keen to go on and play professionally,” Ashmore explained.

“But this time it’s my turn to play in the big event!”

Other players competing in the Kings Lynn final include: Andrew Collison and Ben Ablett (a) (Bungay), Jason Levermore and Rainier Martin (a) (Channels), Daniel Field and Stephen Ambler (East Herts), Peter Latimer and John Blackmore (a) (Felixstowe Ferry), and Michael Few and Tony Gurney-Read (a) (Weston Park).