PRESTONFIELD PAIR WIN PLACE AT LOMBARD TROPHY FINAL AT GLENEAGLES

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Edinburgh's Gavin Cook, the Prestonfield Golf Club professional, and eight-handicap amateur member Kevin Wood, are bound for the Lombard Trophy Grand Final at Gleneagles on September 3-4 after winning the second Scottish qualifying competition today (Wed) at Ladybank Golf Club, Fife.
Cook, who received the first pro prize of £475 - he will be competing for a £12,000 jackpot over the PGA Centenary Course, and Wood, an electrician to trade, had a net score of seven-under-par 64 under the better-ball format.
They had no bogeys in net halves of 30-34, cramming six of their birdies into the outward half then enduring eight net pars in a row before getting the final-hole net birdie that won them the place alongside the qualifiers from 15 other regional qualifiers.
Newmachar pro Andrew Cooper and amateur partner Mark Wilkinson tied with Andrew Sowerby and Dan Kirkbride from the Penrith Golf Centre. Both teams had net 675s. Cooper and Wilkinson were on course to match the winners' 65 when they reached the turn in 31 and had seven net birdies and no bogeys over the first 14 holes. Then they bogeyed the 15th, slip they could not retrieve over the last three holes.
Cooper and Sowerby earned £350 each. 

LOMBARD TROPHY
Scottish Qualifier No 2
Ladybank Golf Club, Fife
Par 71
64 Gavin Cooper (p) £475 and Kevin Wood (am) (Prestonfield).
65 Andrew Cooper (p) £350 and Mark Wilkinson (am) (Newmachar), Andrew Sowerby (p) £350 and Dan Kirkbride (am) (Penrith Golf Centre).
67 Kenny Hutton (p) £187 and Grant Reid (am) (Downfield), Sandy Smith (p) and Chris Grieve (am) (Ladybank), Ron Walker (p) £187 and Stephen Allison (am) (Lundin), Alastair Forrow (p) £187 and Kevin Halpin (am) (Whitecraigs).


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Edinburgh electrician Kevin Wood helped provide the spark as Prestonfield Golf Club qualified for The Lombard Trophy Final at Gleneagles.
Wood, left, and head PGA Professional Gavin Cook carded a seven under par round of 64 in a tight finish which saw them pip three other teams by a shot at the Ladybank regional final.
Narrowly missing out were Newmacher’s Andrew Cooper and Mark Wilkinson, Penrith Golf Centre’s Andrew Sowerby and Dan Kirkbride and Uphall’s Gordon Law and Alan Ferrie.
Prestonfield will now go up against 15 other clubs from across the UK in the £43,600 grand final which will be staged at Gleneagles on September 3-4.
It will be Cook’s second final in the space of four years having also qualified in 2009 when he finished fourth overall.
And Wood, aged 30, admitted that Cook’s experience kept him on course for victory.
The eight handicapper said: “It was good to be playing with Gavin – he’s been there before and knew what he was doing so he managed to keep me on the straight and narrow and stopped me doing anything stupid!
“I wasn’t sure what to expect from the event, but it’s great to win and be heading for the Ryder Cup venue.
“I’ve only been playing golf again for about four years as I took a break after starting out as a junior.
“My back’s been a bit ropey of late but that was never going to stop me playing in this event.”
Cook admitted he was surprised to win at Ladybank.
“We were six under par at the turn and didn’t think 64 would be enough because last time when I qualified it was on 10 under par.”
Cook will be on familiar territory when he arrives at Gleneagles having competed in the Scottish PGA Championship and is targeting a top three place.
“I was fourth when I played in the final four years ago - and I want to improve if I can,” he added.
“I’ve played Gleneagles a few times but I’ll be looking forward to seeing what changes they’ve made for the Ryder Cup.”