Ford hoping to hit the right note in Portugal

Bramcote Waters Golf Course duo Warwick Stevens and Matt Ford have a chance of winning Europe’s biggest pro-am when they compete in the grand final of the Lombard Trophy in sunny Portugal next week.

Head PGA Professional Stevens and amateur Ford will go head-to-head with 14 other clubs in the 36-hole showdown in the Algarve.

More than 700 clubs entered the popular PGA National Pro-Am Championship which reaches its climax at Pestana’s stunning Vila Sol Golf & Resort Hotel on the Algarve from September 21-22.

Stevens and Ford clinched their spot in Portugal after winning their regional qualifier at Enville Golf Club back in July thanks to a ten-under par 62, which also earned them £450.

“I’ve always played at Bramcote and took up golf after playing Sunday League football for years,” said 13-handicapper Ford. “When I couldn’t be bothered with that anymore I started playing golf, and so did my son who was about four at the time. I thought it’d be a nice thing to do together.

“I’ve been singing for about 20 years now. I sing with orchestras such as the CBSO, the John Wilson orchestra the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Halle, anyone who’ll pay me basically!

“At Enville, we were relaxed about it and took it in our stride. I played better than I have for a long time, I was really pleased. I birdied the sixth with my current pro, and Nick, my former pro at Bramcote Water, watching!”

The duo were six under par after the front nine and kept up their momentum to top the leaderboard. And it rounded off a busy period for Stevens who has just become a part-owner of Bramcote Waters.

“I’m now a golf pro/owner,” he added. “The previous owner is Nick Gilkes who’s a PGA tournament referee, has retired and me and his son decided to carry it on and take it over - that was on July 1st.

“So as a bit of advertising I thought I’d go and win the Lombard Trophy qualifier!”