Duo eye Vegas jackpot

GOLF: A TRIP of a lifetime to a top Las Vegas golf resort awaits amateur Andy Long and his Saddleworth professional Rob Johnson.

But first they must come through the regional final of Europe's biggest pro-am competition, the Virgin Atlantic PGA National Pro-Am Championship.

Long, a 29-year-old plumber from Uppermill, plays off four handicap, while Johnson (41) has been professional at Saddleworth for 12 years.

Long took his first big step towards a luxury trip to the grand final at the Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort from December 2-8 when he won Saddleworth’s club qualifying competition with a net score of 66.

He and Johnson will now play at Delamere Forest Golf Club on Friday, July 1.

This is one of 16 regional finals in which competitors will play one round of better-ball medal play.

The winners of each regional final will secure their places on board a Virgin Atlantic jet for the 36-hole Grand Final being staged at the Jack Nicklaus-designed SouthShore Course.

The tournament, which is supported by SkyCaddie and BMW, draws in more than 50,000 competitors from across Britain and Ireland.

It has a prize fund of £30,000, with the winning professional at the Grand Final taking home a cheque for £5,000.