ANDY White is one step away from a dream trip to Valderrama after qualifying for the final of the Mitsubishi Daily Express National Final.

The 36-year-old Pleasington player finished runner-up in the regional final at Whitefield GC in Manchester last week.

And he's now one of 120 hopefuls who will fight it out at The Warwickshire for one of 20 places at the Ryder Cup venue for the grand final in September.

White had to win a club competition at his home course Pleasington in order to qualify for the regional final at Whitefield.

And he recovered from a poor start to post four birdies in six holes for a one-over-par round of 70 which earned him runners up spot overall.

"I went out of bounds on the fourth but then had four birdies in six holes around the turn," said White.

"Then I had to hold it together through the last six holes which are very difficult over there.

"But I'm absolutely delighted to get through.

"When you play off a low handicap you don't often get the chance to win your club competition in order to get through to the regional stages.

"So to do that, and then get through the regional stages as well, feels out of this world.

"And a trip to Valderrama would be absolutely fantastic because it's the sort of place which is difficult to go and play at anyway because it's so exclusive." A place in the grand final would more than make up for the heartache White suffered after his semi-final exit in the Harold Ryden Trophy at the hands of Andy Samuels earlier this summer.

The 36-year-old had his heart set on a place in the final until he was swept away by the Burnley man 4 and 3.

Since then, he's managed to pick himself up though and won the Pleasington Club Championship for the fourth time with two rounds of 76 two weeks ago.

"I knew when I was playing Andy Samuels that I'd have to do something special to beat him, because he knows every blade of grass over his home course.

"And though it was a big disappointment to lose, there's always next year, and the one after that.

"It was great to bounce back by winning the club championship.

"It was a beautiful day and, although I didn't shoot two particularly good scores, they proved good enough on the day."

Meanwhile, Blackburn GC amateur Anthony Davies and his club professional Alan Rodwell are also dreaming of a golfing trip of a lifetime if they can come through the next stage of Europe's biggest pro-am competition, the Lombard Trophy. Davies took his first big step towards a luxury five-day trip to one of Europe's leading courses, San Lorenzo in Portugal, when he won his club qualifying round on May 29.

And now the Blackburn pair will join a host of other amateurs and professionals from our local clubs in the regional final at Hesketh on Monday where they'll play one round of better-ball medal play.

The winners of 18 regional finals throughout Britain and Ireland will enjoy an all-expenses-paid luxury trip to compete at San Lorenzo from October 1-5.

John Campbell and Wilpshire pro Walter Slaven, Pleasington pair Denis Lawless and Ged Furey, and Nelson amateur David Greenwood and his club-pro Nigel Sumner are also among those to have qualified.

Over 1,200 clubs have entered the tournament this year.

And the competition is offering prizes totaling £100,000 for amateurs, and a professional purse of £65,000.

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