A GOLF trip of a lifetime awaits amateur Simon Roocroft and Bolton pro Bob Longworth and Jim O'Gara and Douglas Valley pro Mark Sanders if they can come through the next stage of Europe's biggest pro-am competition, the Lombard Trophy.

Roocroft, 39, a managing director, plays off a handicap of three. He 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 the club qualifying competition with a nett score of 65.

Longworth, aged 56, has been the club professional at Bolton for 29 years. He has previously competed in the 1986 PGA Cup Team and won the Leeds Cup and Lancashire Open.

O'Gara, 35, a company sales manager has been playing golf for three years. He plays off a handicap of 15. The winning professional in the regional final receives £475 and there are valuable prizes for the top amateurs. O'Gara won his club's event with a nett score of 58.

Sanders aged 29, has been the club professional at Douglas Valley for three years.

They now all advance to the regional final at Dunham Forest on Friday, June 1, where they'll play one round of better-ball medal play. The winners of 14 regional finals throughout Britain and Ireland will enjoy an all-expenses-paid luxury trip to compete at San Lorenzo on October 5-9.