A HANDFUL of local amateurs are just one step away from a luxury five-day trip to Portugal after coming through the first round of one of Europe's biggest pro-am competitions.

The winners of the Lombard Trophy first round events at Mytton Fold, Wilpshire, Pleasington, Duxbury Park and Nelson will join up with their respective club pros for their respective regional finals this month.

Stewart Seed, who won the Mytton Fold qualifying competition with a Stableford score of 40 points, and pro Gary Coope go to Dunham Forest on May 22.

Seed, 50, plays off a handicap of 18.

Paul Kent won the Wilpshire contest with a nett score of 64. Kent, 42, who plays off 20, goes through to the regional final at Hesketh on May 20 with the club pro Walter Slaven.

David Eyles was the winner of the Pleasington event, and he and club pro Ged Furey will play in the Hesketh regional final.

Eyles plays off a handicap of 12 and won the event with a nett score of 68.

The Duxbury Park event was won by 59-year-old John Collins who, with a handicap of 12, won the contest with a nett score of 70.

He and club pro Simon Middleham, play in the Hesketh regional final.

Martin Latcham, who is from Chorley, also goes to the Hesketh event after winning the qualifying round at Nelson with a nett score of 64. He plays off nine.

Club pro Neil Reeves will partner him in the regional final.

Competitors at the regional finals will play one round of better-ball medal against approximately 80 other partnerships. The winning professional in the regional final receives £475 and there are valuable prizes for the top amateurs. The top professional prize in Portugal has been increased to £7,500.

The winners of the 16 regional finals throughout Britain and Ireland will play the final at San Lorenzo from September 6-10.