A GOLF trip of a lifetime awaits duos from two local clubs if they can come through the next stage of Europe's biggest pro-am competition, the Lombard Trophy.

Amateur Eddie Marszalek and his Wharton Park PGA professional Angus Hoareare gunning for glory along with Cleobury Mortimer amateur Dean Sadler and professional Jon Jones.

Marszalek took his first big step towards a luxury five-day trip to the Algarve in Portugal, when he won the club qualifying competition on 2 April with a nett score of 66.

He and Hoare now advance to the regional final on 23 May at Little Aston Golf Club, where they will play one round of better-ball medal play.

Marszalek, is a 38 year old computer account manager living in Stourport on Severn. He is married with two sons. He has been playing golf for 10 years and plays off a handicap of five.

Angus Hoare, 37, has been a professional at Wharton Park for 13 years.

Sadler booked his place in the next stage when his nett score of 67 ensured he won his club's qualifying competition on April 23. He and Jones now progress to the regional final on 23 June at Whittington Heath Golf Club.

Sadler, lives in Kidderminster with his wife. He has been playing golf for 10 years and plays off a handicap of 11. Jones, 27, has been a professional at Cleobury Mortimer for 11 years.

The winning professional in the regional final receives £475, and there are valuable prizes for the top amateurs. The winners of 16 regional finals throughout Great Britain and Ireland will enjoy an expenses paid luxury trip to compete in the Grand Final in Portugal in September.

The Lombard Trophy is now in its 11th year and has an overall prize fund of nearly £80,000 with the winning professional at the Grand Final taking home a cheque for £10,000.

Last year, the event passed the milestone of one million rounds of competition golf played since it was launched in 1995 by the PGA and asset finance company, Lombard.

This year's tournament is expected to receive entries from more than 100,000 club golfers from all over Great Britain and Ireland.

Sadler also won the Men's April Bogey competition at Cleobury Mortimer Golf Club.

Full result: Sadler 3 up, Aaron Booton 1 down, Andrew Greenhalgh 1 d, Ronald Wilmott 2 d, Steve Best 2 d, Glen Tramaseur 2 d.

Meanhile Wharton Park Golf Club is running free golf coaching taster sessions for beginners throughout May. It is part of an initiative between the English Golf Union and English Ladies' Golf Association.

Participants will receive free tuition and advice on obtaining a handicap and joining a club. For further information and to book a free lesson please telephone 01299 405163.

l Jane Palmer won the April LGU Medal for Wyre Forest Golf Club Ladies section, with a nett 74, and has also taken the lead in the April Stableford competition.

LGU results: Palmer 110 gross 36 handicap 74 nett, Pat Bowater 113-36-77, Sue Giblin 107-27-80, Val Bow 94-12-82.

Top four Stableford positions: Palmer 35 points, Paula Wood 34, Sue Gibbard 32, Margaret Ellor 28.

l Irene Preston has been enjoying success at Bewdley Pines Golf Club. She won the Ladies April Medal and the Ladies Winter Eclectic.

Full results

Ladies April Medal: Preston 87 gross 23 handicap 64 nett, Cynthia Hardiman 92-27-65, Lesley Barrett 107-36-71.

Ladies Winter Eclectic: 1 Preston 47 nett, 2 Carol Hobday, 3 Kathryn Winfield.

Ryder Cup: Julia Dawson 43 points, Kay Wilkinson 39, Winfield 38.

Men's Mid-week April Medal: P Bullingham 84-23-61, J Bishop 89-22-67, AD Roberts 78-11-67.

Seniors April Medal: Division One - Richard Bourne 82-16-66 (on countback), Bob Corneby 83-17-66, Mike Brewer 88-17-71; Division Two - Robert Cox 86-20-66, Dave Harrison 90-20-70, Norman Howard 91-21-70 (on countback).

l David Elcocks, Division Two winner at Kidderminster Golf Club, won the Founders Trophy and VW Qualifier.

Full results

Division One: Phil Disspain 39 points (last nine), Steve Beddoes 39, Steven Clarke 38.

Division Two: Elcocks 40, Malcolm Brazier 39 (last nine), Craig Richardson 39, Roger hughes 37.

Division Three: Peter Clissett 40, Mike Mills 38, Nigel Chilman 36.

Mid-week Stableford: Elcocks 39, Richardson 38, Brian Field 37.

Aggborough Cup/Gophers Trophy: Division One -Danny Kelly (Aggborough Cup) 70 nett (last nine), Steve Shilton 70, Paul Hutchinson 71; Division Two - Mike Bryce 68 (Gophers Trophy), David Tidd 71 (last nine), Luke Grant 71.

Ladies section

Triers Cup: 1 Tina Jukes, 2 June Blades.

Four clubs and a putter fun competition: Silver division: 1 B Price-Jones, 2 L Clarke; Bronze 1 division: 1 S Cashmore, 2 J Leaning; Bronze 2 division: 1 P Carrato, 2 T Lawson.

Coronation foursome: 1 Jan Biggs and Hilda Gregory, 2 L Clark and J Blades, 3 U Cox and P Evans.

Kidderminster won their match at home against Bewdley Pines 4-1.