Pyman is the upper crust at Woodsome Hall

Former European Tour roommates Iain Pyman (left) and Oliver Whiteley joined forces to stage a late rally and win the Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship North qualifying event at Woodsome Hall.

The pair had to call on all of their experience at the Huddersfield venue but a storming finish saw them record an eight-under-par 62 to pip Graham Cox (Davenport Golf Club) and David Green (Dukinfield Golf Club) and Scott McGovern (Normanton Golf Club) and Gareth Johnson (Garforth Golf Club)

They will join eight other qualifiers at the £35,000 Skycaddie & BMW supported grand final at Carden Park in Cheshire between August 12-14.

Pyman, a former amateur champion and now representing Rotherham’s Waterfront Golf Ltd, partnered Whiteley, of Bramall Park Golf Club in Stockport, as the duo know each other well from their Tour days.

But the Leeds player admitted they got off to a slow start in a round that gathered momentum.

“We’d had a difficult front nine and said to each other that we needed to start getting some birdies,” said Pyman, 42.

“But we had to put all our combined experience together to get there.

“In the last four holes, we made three birdies and an eagle to pull it round. It could’ve been close as the final qualifier made three-under-par.”

The pair are now assistants after undertaking PGA training.

Whiteley has a young family while Pyman decided to focus on teaching at Waterfront where new players are encouraged to take up the game.

“We’ve both decided to go down the PGA route for different reasons,” said Pyman.

“But myself and Olly go way back, we used to room together on the Tour.

“So we’re good mates and enjoy this format which helps when you need to dig in and get the job done.

“I hadn’t played this course before but Olly had. His short game was excellent but I drove well.

“Because we’ve been on the Tour I’d never played in this event before, but now we’re going to Carden Park which I’m really looking forward to as I haven’t played it.

“A lot my time is spent at Waterfront which is getting a great reaction locally. It’s a chance to come and play a nine-hole course rather than 18 and use our different facilities.”