Sergeant Shaun is a real trooper after King’s Lynn victory

Army sergeant Shaun Clare marched into the Lombard Trophy final at Gleneagles after a dominant display.

Clare (pictured on right) partnered Sleaford Golf Club professional Nigel Pearce (left) as the pair carded a superb 10-under-par round of 62 in the latest regional final at King’s Lynn Golf Club.

Only one other team came close with Paul Toyer and Ross Laird, of St Neots Golf Club, falling just one shot short after completing a round of 63.

Lincolnshire duo Clare and Pearce will now play in the £43,600 grand  final over the King’s Course at Gleneagles in Scotland between September 2-3 - just three weeks before the Ryder Cup is held at the same venue.

The victory rounded off an impressive two years for Clare who joined Sleaford after returning to the UK following an 18-year posting in Germany.

Clare is now a platoon sergeant with the MPGS at Coningsby, near Woodhall Spa, and admits it is a move that has allowed him to fine tune his game.

“I’ve been at Sleaford for the last couple of years since coming back from Germany,” said the 47-year-old.

“And during that time I’ve got my handicap down to nine. So getting to Gleneagles really is the icing on the cake.

“I was able to play some casual golf when I was in Germany, but nothing as competitive as this.

“We were always going well, but it was a case of just staying calm.”

The pairing were well on their way to victory at the halfway point after making six birdies in a row in the National Pro-Am event.

Pearce just missed out on the final last year when he was runner-up to eventual Lombard Trophy champions Ian Walley and Ian Neal at Kedleston Park Golf Club in Derbyshire.

But he went one better this time.

“It’d been coming after last year’s qualifier, and I’d shot 68 in a pro-am event the previous Friday, so I was feeling reasonably confident,” said Pearce.

“I’d been getting closer and closer and we did it. This is the first time I’ve made it to the final.”

He knew that victory was in sight when it was clear they were on form.

“We just went crazy,” added Pearce.

“If I hadn’t missed a putt on the ninth hole we’d have gone out in 29.

“Shane played well, he was really solid. Now we’re really looking forward to going to Gleneagles which is somewhere I’ve never played before.”