Fawcett ready to back Leng's second title bid

Far Grange Golf Club John Fawcett will be swapping the east coast of Yorkshire for the Algarve when he tees off in the Lombard Trophy Final.

The 64-year-old from Castleford usually spends his weekends visiting his caravan and playing golf at the Skipsea course.

But now he is heading to Portugal where he will partner Far Grange’s PGA Professional Darren Leng - a previous winner of the National Pro-Am Championship final.

Fawcett and Leng will be aiming to win the £41,450, Coca-Cola and Pestana Resorts supported, grand final which is being held at the Vila Sol resort in the Algarve between September 20-21.

Leng will be making his third appearance in the event and hoping to add to his previous victory nine years ago.

The pair qualified by winning the Regional Final at York’s Fulford Golf Club when they came through on countback, with an eight under par round of 64, after a three way tie for the top.

Cancer-sufferer Fawcett admits he is thrilled to be playing his part in such a prestigious competition.

“I’ve only been getting one game a week in at the moment because I’ve recently moved house, but I’m not playing too badly,” said the 20-handicapper who is a retired maintenance engineer.

“The club’s about 60 miles away but we make a weekend of it every Thursday and come back on Monday. It’ll all come together with a bit of my son Scott’s coming to caddy for me and he was as excited as I was when we qualified.”

Fawcett will make the trip despite his health problems.

“I’m feeling all right, I went to the hospital this month and I’m having treatment for my cancer which suppresses it, they’ll never cure it, but it’s not doing me any harm at the moment,” he explained.

“I just try and forget about it, sometimes I get more upset by a four putt. I can actually do something about that.

“But it’ll be good to get out there and meet some of the other qualifiers who’ll be playing.”