AN amateur golfer from Darlington, who won a trip of a lifetime to watch the Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio, met victorious Irishman Shane Lowry for photos and autographs afterwards.

Ray Pipe swapped his Rockliffe Hall club surroundings for the Firestone Country Club in Ohio, as a VIP prize for winning the prestigious Bridgestone Amateur Golf Championship in June, beating hundreds of amateur hopefuls across Great Britain and Ireland in the process.

And not only did the 63 year-old get to follow Lowry for every step of his final round 66, but he met him afterwards for a chat away from the 18th green moments after the winning putt was sunk.

Pipe said he was still pinching himself after four days to savour in America with his wife Eileen, which even included a round of golf at Firestone Country Club’s North Course on Saturday morning.

He said: “I really can’t believe the four days I’ve had out here in Akron. We were lucky enough to meet Shane Lowry on Saturday evening and were able to have a good old chat.

“To walk every step of the course with him on Sunday and see him hit that second shot into the 18th was a moment to cherish forever. I can’t wait to tell the lads all about it at Rockliffe when I get home!

“Bridgestone treated us like royalty for every second of our adventure and I really can’t thank them enough for what they have done for us.”

Pipe travelled to Akron with fellow winner Ger Breen, from Dublin, who succeeded at the Bridgestone amateur championship at The Belfry in June.

Bridgestone has been the sponsor of the World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational at the Firestone Country Club, Ohio, since 2006.