Carpenter Tim chips in with winning putt

Amateur Tim Higgs (right) with pro partner James Green

Portsmouth amateur Tim Higgs is relishing the ‘chance of a lifetime’ after making it through to the Lombard Trophy Final.

Carpenter Higgs teamed up with Portsmouth Golf Course PGA Professional James Green to win the qualifying event at Walton Heath by just one shot in a closely fought competition.

It was Higgs who holed the vital putt at the 18th hole to as the pair carded an eight under par round of 64 at the Surrey course to book their place at the Portugal showpiece event.

They edged out Mark Treleaven and Martin Eaton (Hayling Golf Club) and Steve Cowle and Ben Homewood (Worldham Golf Club) who tied for second spot.

The Pompey pairing now head for the £41,000 National Pro-Am grand final which will be played at the Vila Sol resort in the Algarve between September 21-22.

Higgs, aged 31, revealed he had no idea his putt would be so important as they did not know how close they were to the top of the leaderboard.

“When we came off at the 18th hole, we knew we’d made a good score but we weren’t sure it would be enough to win it,” said the 10 handicapper.

“But it was and I still can’t take it all in, it was enough for me just to play at Walton Heath but going to Portugal is the chance of a lifetime.

“I’ve been playing what I’d call solidly for about five years now and I’ve been a member at Portsmouth for four of them. I just love golf - I can’t get enough of it, sometimes I end up hating it too, but I always come back for more!”

The duo started their victory charge on the back nine where they made six birdies including four in successive holes.

“I managed to sneak the birdie in at the end but I didn’t know it would win it for us, there was no real pressure on us so I just played my game and watched James driving it miles down the middle, he hits it a lot further than me,” added Higgs.

It will be Green’s first appearance in the Lombard Trophy final and he is also delighted to have made it to Portugal.

“We started quite steadily, then covered each other’s backs and ended up making five birdies in the final six holes, I don’t think we dropped a shot so that was good,” he said.

“It all fell into place with Tim birdying the last hole, it was a really nice finish. I was keeping the score in my head, but I thought someone would get nine or 10 under par so we couldn’t get ahead of ourselves.

“When I saw the scoreboard, it was a pleasant surprise. Then we were having dinner and keeping a check on the scoreboard at the same time.”