THREE north Hampshire golfers are dreaming of playing at Ryder Cup venue Gleneagles after making it through the first round of qualifying for the Lombard Trophy.

Eddie Hubert, Dave Cuthbertson and Alun Lamerton all reached the regional final of the event by winning qualifying competitions at their home clubs.

They will now team up with their club professionals for the regional final, which will take place at Camberley Heath Golf Club on July 1, competing against 70 other pairings for a place in the grand final.

That will take place on the King’s Course at the famous Scottish resort in September, just three weeks before the Ryder Cup is staged at the venue.

Hubert, who hails from Newcastle and plays off a handicap of eight, won the qualifying event at Basingstoke Golf Club and will partner Daniel Fisher, who has been the professional at Basingstoke for 10 years, in the regional final.

Cuthbertson, who is 29 and plays off 18, will team up with Richard Lewington at Camberley Heath after winning the qualifying competition at Sherfield Oaks with a nett score of 69 (-3).

Hartley Wintney GC will be represented by Lamerton, who will partner long-serving professional Martin Smith in the regional qualifier.

On a tough day punctuated by blustery showers, Lamerton, who plays off a handicap of 12, was one of seven players to card a nett round of 70 (-1). Countback was required, with Lamerton’s fine back nine earning him victory, just ahead of Dave Bartlett and Bradley Walsh.