A TILT at golfing glory awaits amateur Jason Owens and his Hartlepool PGA professional Graham Laidlaw as they bid to reach the Lombard Trophy grand final being staged at Gleneagles – just three weeks before Europe and America meet in the Ryder Cup.

Owens teed up a chance to tread the fairways of the King’s Course at the famous Scottish resort on September 3/4 when he won his club qualifying competition with a nett score of 66.

He and Laidlaw advance to the regional final at Fulford Golf Club on Thursday, June 5, where they will compete against up to 70 other clubs for the chance to secure one of 16 prized spots available for the 36-hole grand final.

Owens, 28, is a joiner from Hartlepool. He plays off a handicap of 11. Laidlaw, 51, has been a professional at Hartlepool for 12 years.

The PGA National Pro-Am Championship has a total prize fund of £80,000, with the winning professional at the grand final taking home a cheque for £12,000.

WITH just 100 days to go until Rockliffe Hall hosts the European Senior Tour English Senior Open, tickets have now gone on general sale.

This year’s three-day event takes place on the Bank Holiday weekend from Friday August 22 until Sunday 24, with a Pro-Am tournament on Thursday August 21.

It’s expected that names such as former Ryder Cup Captains Ian Woosnam and Mark James and Senior Tour favourites such as Costantino Rocca, Barry Lane, Des Smyth, Peter Fowler and Paul Wesselingh, who won last year’s Order of Merit, will return to play the European Senior Tour English Senior Open, as well as 2013’s winner Steen Tinning.

Tickets can now be bought for just £10 (under-16s free) by visiting www.englishsenioropen.com or calling 01325 729999.

In addition, a number of exclusive corporate opportunities are also available, ranging from branding and signage options to pro-am tournament teams and corporate hospitality packages. Prices start from £125.

AFTER the success of the recent Durham Golf Union Schools Championships at Beamish Park, Durham North’s team has been revealed for the upcoming English Schools National Championships qualifiers.

Seven boys and five girls will form a group competing in the 36-hole qualifier at Bramall Park, Cheshire, on May 30.

Chris Handy (St. Bede’s, Lanchester), Aaron McManus (Durham Sixth Form), Adam Nicholson (Gateshead), Nick Johnson (Durham Sixth Form), Jonathan Cosser (Durham Sixth Form), Cameron Wallace (Dyke House, Hartlepool), Jack Ainscough (Dyke House, Hartlepool) make up the boys.

Shannon O’Dyer (English Martyrs, Hartlepool), Natasha Martin (Durham Sixth Form), Alex Stevenson (Tanfield School, Stanley), Jessica Hall (Barnard Castle), Kitana Hollins (Belmont Community, Durham) make up the girls contingent.

The English Schools’ National Championships takes place on June 23 at Enfield Golf Club. The players qualifying at Bramall will represent the North of England and play against the other four regions’ nominations. While there is an inter-county element, there are individual competitions for boys and girls pushing to progress to the English Schools Championships in June.

AS PART of centenary celebrations, Eaglescliffe Golf Club is to have a hickory event this Sunday. The golf will commence at 2pm, with around 44 mixed pairs and all have been asked to wear period-type clothing (Edwardian).