GOLF: THE sporting trip of a lifetime beckons for local golfers, if they can come through the next stage of Europe's biggest pro-am competition, the Lombard Trophy.

Amateur David Perkins took his first step towards a luxury five-day trip to San Lorenzo, Portugal, when he won Kidderminster Golf Club's qualifying competition in March.

Perkins will join club professional Nick Underwood in the regional final at Coventry on May 14.

Andrew Roberts won Wharton Park's qualifying with a nett 66 and will be partnered by club professional Angus Hoare.

Alan Ferguson won Cleobury Mortimer's qualifier with a nett 69 and will also be at Coventry with PGA professional Jon Jones.

David Timmington, of Shatterford, won the Worfield Club qualifier and will partner club professional Stephen Russell.

The regional finalists will play a round of betterball medal play.

The winners of the 14 regional finals proceed to Portugal from October 5 to 9.

Underwood has been the Kidderminster club professional for 27 years, while Jones has been at Cleobury just three years and won the Worcestershire Strokeplay Championship last year.

The winning professional in Portugal will receive £5,000.