Morgan saves the date for Gleneagles

A former semi-professional goalkeeper who took up golf after his football team dissolved is preparing to play the biggest round of his life.

David Morgan, aged 52, played between the sticks for Dagenham FC before they folded in 1992, and now, 22 years later, he will pick up his woods to play in Europe’s largest pro-am golf tournament. 

The Kent golfer teams up with Cherry Lodge PGA Professional Craig Sutherland, above, in the Lombard Trophy regional final at Kingswood on June 26.

A former champion of this event, Sutherland will be targeting a third appearance in the final having reached it last year and won it in 2011.

The final carries a £43,000 prize fund with a £12,000 winner’s cheque and will be staged on the King’s Course at Gleneagles on September 2-3, just weeks before the Ryder Cup.

And Morgan admitted that his playing partner inspires added belief ahead of an event which is renowned for its tense battles and close finishes.

“I was absolutely elated to make it through the club qualifying round,” he said.

“Knowing that Craig Sutherland will be my pro for the event fills me with confidence – big time! He’s an exceptional golfer and I’m confident that we stand a great chance.

“I’ve known him for years actually and get on really well with him, I’m sure it will be a great day playing alongside him in the regional final.”

Printer salesman and landlord Morgan has experienced victory before. Twice he has won the club championship at Cherry Lodge, although that did not prepare him for the surprise of winning his Lombard Trophy club qualifying competition.

“I always knew it would be tough to qualify, after all you’re in a field of 120,” he explained.

“But in the end I just nicked it by one shot – I was really pleased and couldn’t believe I had done it.”

The five-handicapper has enjoyed playing around the world since he hung up his football boots, and hopes he can add Gleneagles to the illustrious list of venues he has visited.

“I’ve really enjoyed playing at some incredible courses around the world,” he recalled.

“For me, my personal favourites have been Loch Lomond and Shadow Creek in Vegas. I don’t understand how they make the course look as good as they do at Shadow Creek considering it is in the middle of the desert!

“Obviously to play Gleneagles in the year it hosts the Ryder Cup would be some achievement, and to do so representing Cherry Lodge would just be the icing on the cake.”

Other pairings playing in the Kingswood qualifier include: Guy Shoesmith and Jonathan Holden (a) (West Hill), Tim Spence and Graham Gates (a) (The Golf College), Michael Taylor and Mitch Dowling (a) (Shirley Park), and Adam Hinton and James Menagh (a) (Leatherhead)