Blake hoping to slice through the field at Burnham

Cornwall baker Michael Blake is aiming to rise to the occasion in the Lombard Trophy regional final at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club.

The Launceston Golf Club amateur will team up with PGA Professional John Tozer for the event to be held on August 2.

Last year, Tozer partnered World Cornish Pasty Champion Graham Cornish for the Lombard Trophy qualifier.

And now he will be playing alongside 50-year-old Blake, who has a family bakery in Liskeard.

The pair will be bidding to book a trip to the £41,450, Coca-Cola and Pestana Resorts supported, National Pro-Am grand final which will be played at the Vila Sol resort in the Algarve between September 20-21.

But Blake admits he is recovering from the rough and tumble of another sport as he prepares to tee off at the Somerset venue.

“I play cricket and keep wicket for Cornwall over-50s, I took a diving catch and landed on my shoulder, that damaged my tendons, now I’m scrambling to get some golf in - there’s a bit of a lack of practice but sometimes that can be quite good,’ explained the 15 handicapper who has been at Launceston for around 10 years.

“I’ve got a bit more time on my hands now, but I’ve been playing golf on and off since my 20s.

“I’ve never played Burnham before, I know it’s a links course.

“I reached the stage a couple of years ago where I felt I had to do something, it was the winter months when I put a pound or two on. But I can play golf all year round.

“I get a few lessons with John each September to get the cricket shots out of me and my golf swing back.”

Blake’s bakery business is well known in Cornwall and he will be hoping to mix with some of the club professionals’ upper crust if he and Tozer can impress.

“It’s family business, I’m about the fourth or fifth generation of bakers which originated in Bristol before coming down to Cornwall around 40 years ago,” he explained.

For more information on the event at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club click here.