Northampton PGA professional Nick Soto (left), Lombard Sales Director Nick Tabiner (centre) and club captain Keith Heard (right). Picture courtesy of Getty Images. For more images from the event please click through to www.gettyimages.com
[19 September 2011] Northampton Golf Club captain Keith Heard clinched a trip to Turkey in the Lombard Challenge after winning an 'unbelievable' Midland Region qualifier at Henley in Arden Golf Club.
Heard teamed up with PGA professional Nick Soto for the PGA Pro-Captain tournament held at the Warwickshire venue where they won by just one shot after carding a seven under par round of 66.
But it was a close run thing with five pairs sharing second spot at six under par.
Justin Fores and his captain Peter Jackson, of Nottinghamshire's Bondhay Golf & Country Club, Stephen Russell and John Overton of Bridgnorth Golf Club, Tim Cooper and Alan Cunningham of Newton Green Golf Club in Suffolk, James Wright and Peter Hutton of Wolverhampton's Swindon Golf Club and Ian Proverbs and Gwyn Durrell of Walsall Golf Club, all tied for second place.
Soto and Heard came out on top though to earn a place in the £25,000 Lombard Challenge final which will be held at the PGA Sultan Course at Antalya Golf Club from November 25-26.
Heard said: "It was unbelievable and to win a prize like this is just fantastic.
"All credit to Nick who played superbly all today and made an eagle three at the 18th which proved decisive.
"It was a very challenging course but the conditions were kind to us and luck was on our side.
"I play off a five handicap so I suppose we felt we might be in with a chance. I also play pro-captain events with Nick so we know each other's game well. But you can never predict what will happen. It all went to plan though."
Soto, head PGA professional at Northampton, added: "We were two under after 10 holes so we knew it would take something special to win it.
"But that's just how it turned out and our back nine was good. The club are going to be buzzing about this.
"In these events, the winner gets to the final but second place wins nothing and with only a few pairs going out to Turkey it means more.
"We could have finished in the top six in the qualifier and felt we'd done well. But going to the final means it's just an elite number in the country who can play. It'll really raise the profile of the club.
"Keith's handicap means we knew we could be competitive so we were always in with a shout."
ENDS
THE LOMBARD CHALLENGE, a PGA Pro-Captain Tournament
Midland Regional Qualifier at Henley Golf & Country Club, Friday 16 September 2011
| Pos. | Score | Pro | Captain | Represents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 66 (-7) | Nick Soto | Keith Heard | Northampton |
| 2 | 67 (-6) | Justin Fores | Peter Jackson | Bondhay |
| Stephen Russell | John Overton | Bridgnorth | ||
| Timothy Cooper | Alan Cunningham | Newton Green | ||
| James Wright | Peter Hutton | Swindon | ||
| Ian Proverbs | Gwyn Durrell | Walsall |
Full results from the event at Henley can be found at: http://pgagbi.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/pgagbi11/event/pgagbi1126/contest/1/leaderboard.htm
Visit http://www.pga.info/ProCaptainChallenge.aspx
For more information on The Lombard Challenge For further information or alternative images please contact Kelly Lewis at PGA Headquarters on 01675 470 333 or e-mail media@pga.org.uk
Visit www.PGA.info for up to date reports and scores throughout the season from The Lombard Challenge and all PGA tournaments
Note to Editors
Lombard is part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group. As one of the largest asset financiers in the UK and voted Best Leasing & Asset Finance Provider by Business Moneyfacts in 2009, 2010 and 2011, Lombard provides various forms of asset finance to businesses of varying sizes – from SMEs to large corporates. Products include Hire Purchase, Finance Lease, Operating Lease, Sale and Leaseback, Contract Hire, to Contract Purchase, as well as multi-specialist asset finance products such as marine, aviation and specific wholesale and stocking funding for distributors and dealerships.
Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2011, Lombard is headquartered in Redhill, Surrey, with an extensive network of business centres situated throughout the UK, and is an appointed representative of The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
