Early entries boost for Lombard

27/01/2014

2701Charles Dernie

Clubs are seizing the chance to play in the 2014 Lombard Trophy with nearly 100 already signed up to compete in the £80,000 tournament which will climax in a grand final at Gleneagles in September.

And Scottish club Blairgowrie can claim the honour of being the first to enter with the popular event occupying a special place in the affections of its club pro Charles Dernie (above) who is a past winner.

Dernie, a PGA Fellow Professional, lifted the coveted title back in 1981 when he was at Buchanan Castle and admits he would love to make it to another grand final.

“It is a tremendous event, Europe’s biggest pro-am, and I try to play in it every year,” said Dernie who will be in action in June’s Ladybank qualifier.

“The PGA and the sponsors, Lombard, do a wonderful job and I really enjoy playing in it although sadly I have not looked like qualifying lately but I would love to experience reaching another grand final, especially with it being at Gleneagles.

“Just as importantly, it’s also a great experience for the amateur and generates a lot of interest within the club.”

With 16 regional finals to be staged across leading UK venues, including two past Ryder Cup courses, organisers are on course to exceed last year’s figure of 700 clubs competing for Europe’s largest pro-am crown.

The first regional final gets underway at Fulford on June 5 with Dunham Forest wrapping up the qualifiers on July 25.

Each of the 16 winning clubs will contest a 36-hole grand final at Gleneagles’ King’s Course from September 2-3 with the winning PGA pro earning a first prize of £12,000 out of a prize fund of £43,000.

Clubs can enter online by downloading an entry pack at www.PGA.info

The full list and dates of regional finals is as follows:

THE LOMBARD TROPHY

2014 Regional Finals

Fulford – Thursday, June 5

Ladybank – Tuesday, June 10

Crieff – Thursday, June 12

The K Club – Tuesday, June 17

Pleasington – Thursday, June 19

Orsett – Tuesday, June 24

Kingswood – Thursday, June 26

Camberley Heath – Tuesday, July 1