A TILT at golfing glory awaits amateur Paul Manley and his Windwhistle PGA professional Liam Clarke as they bid to reach the Lombard Trophy grand final being staged at Gleneagles – just three weeks before Europe and America meet in the Ryder Cup.

Manley teed up a chance to tread the fairways of the King’s Course at the famous Scottish resort between September 3-4 when he won his club qualifying competition with a nett score of 68.

He and Clarke now advance to the regional final at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club on Wednesday 23 July, where they will compete against up to 70 other clubs for the chance to secure one of 16 prized spots available for the 36-hole grand final. Manley, 42, is an accounts manager from Chard. He has been playing golf for ten years and plays off a handicap of 13. Liam Clarke, 30, has been a professional at Windwhistle for three years abd us a former European Tour player.

Lombard, the UK’s largest asset finance provider which invests in local and regional business, has enjoyed a long association with the event, helping make it the biggest pro-am in Europe.

Managing director Richard Hemsley said: “We are delighted to be associated with the tournament, and wish all the regional finalists good luck as they try and win a place at Gleneagles.

“With the 2014 Ryder Cup taking place just three weeks after the Lombard Trophy, it gives the final an extra dimension with competitors able to soak up the build-up ahead of the European and American showdown.”

The tournament, now in its 30th year, attracts entries from upwards of 700 clubs across Great Britain and Ireland.