Primed for Portugal

Spiritual home might be slightly over-egging it but Portugal and the Lombard Trophy enjoy a long history.

The Algarve was the popular final destination in Lombard’s first tenure as lead sponsor of the PGA National Pro-Am Championship from 1995 to 2006.

A decade later, and with Coca Cola on board as support sponsor, the Mediterranean hotspot will again be the focus of attention with the staging of both the Lombard Trophy and the inaugural WPGA Lombard Trophy at Pestana’s Vila Sol Golf & Resort Hotel from September 22-23.

And, while the event shares a history with Portugal, so do many PGA pros - just ask Andrew Rhodes.

Reaching the grand final has long been an ambition for the Keighley pro who has come close on a number of times at regional finals – notably on one occasion even having a winners’ picture taken only to be pipped by the last group of the day on countback.

While Rhodes can relish the prospect of a first grand final appearance, two pros will be celebrating their second appearances in relatively short succession. Saunton’s Albert MacKenzie played in 2013 and Farham’s Luke Bone reached the grand final in 2014.

Saunton’s victory in the regional qualifier at Burnham & Berrow highlighted the margins involved with MacKenzie’s amateur partner Paddy Towson sinking a 40 foot putt on the last for a one stroke victory.

For Leigh’s Andrew Baguley, a PGA Cup winner in 2005 at The K Club, the trip will mark a return to Portugal having qualified for the Lombard Trophy when it was first staged there in 1995.

He and partner Steve Hewitt scorched to a five stroke success in their regional final at Formby with eight birdies in nine holes setting them on their way.

Another pro with experience of playing in a Lombard Trophy final in Portugal is Drumpellier’s Ian Taylor. The Scot is back with partner Hugh McIntyre courtesy of their one stroke victory at Cawder.

Among the amateurs, there are some great stories too. Builder Lee Buckingham is just a year into his membership at Torquay having been out of the game for three years to renovate his home. His pro Jason Fullard reached the final in the early 1990s and summed up his attitude towards the event after they topped the Bovey Castle regional final.

“I try and qualify every year, you hope and pray you play for your amateur and that he does for you because I want them to get to the final and experience what a great event it is.”

In the WPGA Lombard Trophy the Ormskirk pair of Alison Gray and former Wales amateur international Sara Fitzgerald topped the first of the women qualifiers at Camberley and look to be a strong duo.

Fitzgerald works in banking and it was a retired banking director Sue Kiddle, right, who teamed up with Dinsdale Golf Club pro Nikki Dunn, left, in the second qualifier at Dunham Forest.

Dunn commented: “I wanted to play this event because I want to support the fact that the PGA had made another event available for women to play in. 

“It’s great that we have our final in Portugal and that they’re doing more for the women’s game. I know the men’s event is very popular and I can see the women’s version going the same way from now on.”

As ever there are the usual birthday clashes. Manor of Groves pro Ben Goodey misses his wife’s after he and Robert Jones fired a brilliant 59 to top the Ashridge qualifier.

But for Thornbury’s Yanis Tsiopani, the trip will offer a double celebration as he reaches the 40th birthday milestone on the day of the first round. “You couldn’t make it up,” said the bricklayer from Bristol after he and pro Jason Fallon triumphed at Walton Heath.

No doubt if the pair are in contention after the opening round the celebration drinks will be kept to a minimum but with a £41,500 prize fund including £12,000 to the winning pro, and £2,500 to the winner women pro, there will be time enough to celebrate at the end of round two.

** Full list of teams in Lombard Trophy

** Full list of teams in WPGA Lombard Trophyl