Lombard treble for Thompson

Martyn Thompson is hoping Saunton proves to be a lucky omen for him after teaming up with Parkstone Golf Club amateur Darren Budd to qualify for The Lombard Trophy final.

The pair defied windy conditions to dominate the event at the Devon course where the duo recorded a commanding four shot victory.

They carded a seven-under-par round of 64 to beat Nicholas Rogers and Paul Martin (Falmouth), John Blackburn and Paul Nicholson (Mendip Spring) and Stuart Disney and Gary Stevenson (Padbrook Park).

The Parkstone pair 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.

For Thompson, it is his third final - and the second in a row.

It was 10 years ago that he first won it and that year he also qualified by winning at Saunton.

Thompson said: “I hope that’s a lucky omen.

“I’ve never played at Gleneagles before so to the have the final there this year is fantastic.

“I wasn’t sure how well we’d do as we were one of the last out and the wind was getting stronger. As it turned out, we didn’t drop a shot.

“I know Saunton well and thought we might stand a chance of winning if we made five-under-par. But at seven-under we just had to hold on.

“And Darren had a great day, he was awesome. He takes his golf seriously, it’s his life.”

Budd, 33, a train driver from Poole, said: “I felt I had a responsibility to help Martyn get to the final.

“He wants his name back on that trophy again.

“I practiced every day in the week leading up to the event, and it paid off as I was really pleased with the way I played.”