KEIGHLEY Golf Club professional Andrew Rhodes expressed his delight after finally making it to the Grand Final of the PGA National Pro-Am Championship.

Rhodes and Keighley member Luke Roberts became the first of 14 pairs to qualify for the showpiece Lombard Trophy event in Portugal after winning their regional final in blustery conditions at Fulford.

The duo posted an eight-under-par round of 64 which was enough to win by one shot and book their place in the £41,500 event at Pestana Golf Resort, Vila Sol on September 22-23.

Having been Keighley's professional since 2004, Rhodes has narrowly missed out on reaching the final several times, including once losing a countback on the back three holes.

He said: “One year we came top and even had our photos taken as winners – that was a bit presumptuous as the last group came in and made the same score as us then won on countback.

“I’ve come second in this as well so to finally get to the final for the first time is great.

“I don’t think Luke got much sleep the night before. But he needn’t have worried as we didn’t drop a shot and made a nett eagle at the ninth hole which meant we were five-under-par at the turn.

“We made a birdie at the 18th hole which was crucial as two other groups made seven under par after us.

“But we hoped we’d done enough even though we had a three-hour wait to find out we’d definitely won.”

Twenty-four-year-old Roberts, who plays off a handicap of 13 and works as a dentistry supplier, was equally thrilled to reach the final of a competition which attracts entries from more than 700 clubs and has more than 100,000 amateurs taking part.

He said: “It’s like a miracle, I was quite emotional when I came off at the end. I’ve been practising for a month to try and get my game right for this.

“To get to this event and play with Andrew and alongside pros from all over the north of England was tremendous.

“But to win was just unreal. Andrew made sure there was no pressure and once we had our first birdie then all my nerves disappeared. I was able to play at ease after that.”

Roberts, who earned the chance to partner Rhodes after winning Keighley's April medal, has been playing since he was a teenager and always wanted to play in this event.

“I’d been trying for years but now I’ve got a chance to go to the final,” he added.

Rhodes was full of praise for the way Roberts held his nerve as the pair just pipped Andrew Miller and Richard Hardy (Ashby Decoy Golf Club) and Peter Raine and Matthew Tweddle (Blackwell Grange Golf Club).

The professional said: "I would like to say a huge 'thank you' and congratulations to Luke (and his super caddy dad Brian), who were excellent company. He can be extremely proud of how he conducted himself, especially as we approached what Sir Alex Ferguson would refer to as "squeaky bum time", holing one or two crucial putts on the closing holes to maintain our momentum.

"We are both very proud of our achievement and cannot wait to take the next step of our journey in Portugal. As a team we gelled really well and we look forward to doing it all again for our club in September.

"Those that have been fortunate enough to progress have told me it really is a trip of a lifetime and the greatest golfing experience they have known."