A TADLEY golfer is hoping to win the chance to play at Ryder Cup venue Gleneagles after taking a first step towards Lombard Trophy glory.

Playing off a handicap of 13, Paul Barnett, a 54-year-old manager, won the qualifying competition at Bishopswood Golf Course with a nett score of 70 (-2).

As a result, he will partner Steve Ward, who has been the professional at Bishopswood for 25 years, in the regional final at Walton Heath Golf Club next Wednesday.

There they will compete against 70 other pairs for one of the 16 places available for the final.

The 36-hole final will be held on the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles, in Scotland, the venue for Europe’s dramatic victory over the USA in last year’s Ryder Cup.

The Lombard Trophy is the biggest pro-am tournament in Europe, attracting entries from more than 700 clubs.

It has a total prize fund of £80,000, with the winning professional taking home a cheque for £12,000.

Among the pairings up against Barnett and Ward at Walton Heath will be Hartley Wintney duo Lee Ollernshaw and professional Martin Smith.

Ollernshaw amassed 41 points to win the club’s Watts Cup and qualify for the regional final.