A GOLF trip of a lifetime awaits amateur Gary Edmunds and his Redditch PGA professional David Down if they can come through the next stage of Europe's biggest pro-am competition, the Lombard Trophy.

Edmunds, 56 from Alvechurch, took a big step towards a luxury five-day trip to one of Europe's leading courses, San Lorenzo in Portugal, when he won the club's qualifying competition on April 3.

He and David Down now advance to the regional final on 24 June at Whittington Heath Golf Club, where they'll play one round of better-ball medal play.

The winners of 16 regional finals throughout Great Britain and Ireland will enjoy an expenses paid luxury trip to compete at San Lorenzo from September 3-7.

The Lombard Trophy is now in its 10th year and to celebrate this the winning professional at the Grand Final will take home £10,000.

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