A tilt at golfing glory awaits amateur Russell Daughtry and his Calverley PGA professional Danny Littlewood as they bid to reach the Lombard Trophy grand final at Gleneagles – just three weeks before Europe and America meet there in the Ryder Cup.

Daughtry teed up a chance to tread the fairways of the King’s Course at the famous Scottish resort between September 3-4 when he won his club qualifying competition with a nett score of 70.

He and Littlewood now 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.

Lombard, the UK’s largest asset finance provider which invests in local and regional business, has enjoyed a long association with the event, helping make it the biggest pro-am in Europe.

“We are delighted to be associated with the tournament, and wish all the regional finalists good luck as they try and win a place at Gleneagles,” said Richard Hemsley, managing director of Lombard.

“With the 2014 Ryder Cup taking place just three weeks after the Lombard Trophy, it gives the final an extra dimension, with competitors able to soak up the build-up ahead of the European and American showdown.”

The tournament, now in its 30th year, attracts entries from upwards of 700 clubs across Great Britain and Ireland.

Lombard originally sponsored the tournament from 1995 to 2006 before returning as headline sponsor in 2013.

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.

Daughtry works in sales in Calverley, has been playing golf for five years and plays off a handicap of 18.

Littlewood, 28, has been a professional at Calverley for 12 years. He was the Bradford and District Union's junior player of the year in 2003.

Last year's winners were PGA professional Ian Walley and amateur partner Ian Neal, from Kedleston Park Golf Club in Derbyshire.