Veteran golf professional Grahame Fieldsend is poised to take the skies for the first time in his life - after winning a trip to Turkey in Europe's biggest pro-am.
The 62-year-old Hessle pro admitted he'd never flown in his life after he and amateur partner Andrew Challis scorched to an 11 under par victory in the regional final of the PGA National Pro-Am Championship at York's Fulford Golf Club.
In a perfect display of teamwork, the pair won by three shots from Pannal's Dave Padgett and amateur Paul Bielby and Allerthorpe's James Drinkall and amateur Kevin Thompson to secure an all expenses trip to the £30,000 grand final at the Sirene Beach & Hotel Resort and Antalya Golf Club at the end of the year.
The duo were fifth out and victory looked assured after a blemish free round that yielded nine birdies and an eagle even though the majority of the 70-strong field were yet to complete their round.
"I had to sign a winning card for Gary Brown of Ganton a couple of years ago and that was eight under so I knew we must have had a good chance," said Fieldsend, who has been the head pro at Hessle for 37 years.
"I knew it needed two guys playing really well to come close to that. I'd never played with Andrew before this but he plays off six, was steady and we fitted in well."
The victory is the first notable success in a long and distinguished career for Fieldsend, who is the ultimate club professional and even returned to work at his Humberside club for the few hours between finishing his round and the prize presentation - despite getting up at 5.30am
The tournament is a once-a-year venture into the competitive arena and having finally chalked up a career win, a new experience awaits him with his first flight abroad.
"One of the things about winning is I've got to get on a plane and I've never flown in my life," he said.
"It's like everything in life, it's an experience and you just have to live with. Everyone else does it so I don't see any reason why I can't."
Partner Challis, a 48-year-old driver from Hull, was counting his luck after he revealed he'd got his place in the regional final by virtue of a missing £1 coin.
"I finished second in the club's medal, which was won by the club's green keeper, but he hadn't put his pound in to enter so I got through by default," he said.
"I can't believe it because I've never won anything when it comes to golf, the odd monthly medal, but now I've got this.
"I'm still nervous thinking about it and even tried to sleep when I went home but couldn't so I ended up watching Wimbledon.
"But I have to add that my professional was very modest. He's 62 and looking a retiring in two and half years but played magnificently.
"He doesn't play much because he's a club pro through and through having made Hessle what it is today, but he was fantastic to play alongside."
The winning pair will compete against 15 other regional finalists during the expenses paid five-day, five-star trip to the Sirene Beach & Hotel Resort on Turkey's
Mediterranean Coast from November 30 to December 4.
The tournament, which attracts more than 100,000 entries, is now in its 24th staging and has been held in Portugal, Spain, Grand Bahamas and Sardinia prior to Turkey last year.
25 June, 2008