Rigby uses his loaf to clinch Lombard Trophy place

Former baker Derrick Rigby rose to the occasion at West Lancashire Golf Club to qualify for The Lombard Trophy Final at Gleneagles.

Rigby, aged 72 and representing Bolton’s Hart Common Golf Club, teamed up with PGA Professional Steve Parry to win the qualifying event by two shots at the Liverpool venue.

They carded a nine-under-par round of 63 to pip Grant Hamerton and Stephen Homer of Pike Fold Golf Club, into second place.

The duo will now play in the £43,600 grand final which will be held at Gleneagles in Scotland - the venue for next year’s Ryder Cup - on September 3-4.

And for Wigan-based Rigby (pictured right), who plays off a handicap of 10, the victory at the Blundellsands course was a huge relief.

He explained: “I’d been worrying about this for a month!

“I didn’t want to let Steve down, but in the end it was absolutely brilliant. Steve putted superbly and I did my bit as well.

“I’ve been playing golf for 32 years now but this is by far and away the biggest thing I’ve ever been involved in.

“To go and play at Gleneagles is just fantastic.”

For the experienced Parry, who runs the successful North West Golf Academy from the club, reaching the Lombard Trophy will be a new experience for him.

He said: “I’ve never played in this competition before, this is the first time I’ve entered to so make the final means a lot.

“I was so pleased for Derrick as he had been panicking a bit. But he was great and helped us get through.

“We had a series of birdies to start with and played the back nine well too to make sure we won.

“This is good for the Academy which is expanding all the time and going from strength to strength.