GED Furey has put his order for escudos on hold, as he prepares to defend the Lombard Top Club Trophy he won with Pleasington amateur partner Geoff Wilson in Portugal last year.

The prize for the winners of next week's NW regional final of the Lombard - Europe's biggest pro-am tournament - is a place in the grand final and an expenses-paid trip to the San Lorenzo championship course in the Algarve.

But Pleasington professional Furey is downbeat about this year's chances of making the plane to Portugal, along with partner Roy Barker.

The reason being that Roy could be too good a player!

His amateur partner is a three handicapper, while Geoff played off 11 and consequently received a lot of shots.

Rules of the competition mean that the winner of the club's April Medal goes forward with the pro to the regional final at Hesketh.

And Furey said: "Our chances have to be slim, because while Roy is obviously a very good player, we'll probably play the same holes well and he'll have to give shots to a lot of players.

"We're going to give it a go but it will be very difficult, because Roy is such a low handicapper.

"Everything will have to go for us and it would probably be best if the weather turned bad.

"That could blow the longer handicappers away and give us a chance."

Last summer, Ged made it to Portugal on the back of a stunning finish on the same course.

The last three holes were conquered by hole-in-one, birdie, birdie. Then it was on to Portugal where the Pleasington pair triumphed again.

Hesketh stages the regional final tomorrow week, Friday, August 1, with the grand final staged in Portugal from October 3-7.

A number of other local pro-am combinations will be in action at Hesketh.

Blackburn pro Alan Rodwell teams up with 12-handicapper Paul Tomlinson, while Rovers fan Ryan Holden, assistant greenkeeper at Darwen, claimed the privilege of joining club pro Wayne Lennon in the regional final.

Ryan plays off 10.

Representing Clitheroe will be professional John Twissell and amateur Julian Thorp, who is off five, while Nelson pro Nigel Sumner teams up with amateur and four-handicapper Adam Markin.

One of the longest handicappers in the competition could be Douglas Woodburn from Mytton Fold GC.

Douglas, who is off 20, lines up with the club professional Gary Coope.

The Duxbury Park duo will be professional Stuart Taylor and amateur Eddie Tickle, who plays off six.

Pro-am teams from Burnley and Whalley will take part in the North East regional finals of the Lombard,at Pannal GC next Wednesday.

Burnley's representatives will be professional William Tye and amateur Fred Hargreaves (handicap 15), while Whalley will send professional Harry Smith and amateur K Brewerton (19).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.