Berry ripe for challenge in prestigious pairs event.

Byline: RICHARD WILLIAMSON

A MERSEYSIDE professional is chasing a hat-trick of appearances in the final of one of the country's most prestigious events.

Bromborough's Geoff Berry lines up at Dunham Forest on Friday, alongside club member Ged Lynch-Smith, to contest the regional final of the Virgin Atlantic PGA National Pro-Am Championship.

The grand final, to be contested by the winners of the 16 regional finals across Great Britain and Ireland, is held in Turkey at the end of the year and Berry will be bidding for a return trip having played there last year, too. He also played in the 1999 finale.

Up for grabs this week is an all-expenses-paid trip to the Sirene Beach & Hotel Resort and Antalya Golf Club, which will host the 36-hole tournament over the PGA Sultan Course.

The tournament, Europe's largest pro-am with more than 100,000 competitors annually, also carries a professional prize fund of pounds 30,000, with pounds 5,000 going to the winning professional.

Berry secured his place in last year's final at Dunham Forest with a nine-under-par 63 aided then by amateur Ian Fitzpatrick.

The Wirral pro goes into the event having 'warmed-up' on one of the world's most glamorous courses but admits form, or the lack of it, is irrelevant.

"I've not played much at all apart from a couple of overseas trips to Florida, where I played Sawgrass, and Portugal. It seems I play more golf out of the country that in it, " said the 47-year-old, who has been head professional at Bromborough for 18 years.

"But I don't think it makes that much difference on the day, which is the beauty of this format.

"It's about a partnership and the pros will be looking for their amateur to come in on a couple of holes and the pro to play steady," added Berry, whose playing partner has a handicap of 22. "If that doesn't happen then you'll be among the also-rans.

"I can predict how we'll do but I was made up reaching last year's grand final, which was a great experience." More than 40 teams from across the north west and north Wales, including those from Carden Park, Hoylake and Formby, are descending on the Cheshire course for the 18-hole shoot-out.

The Virgin Atlantic PGA National Pro-Am Championship is being staged for the 25th time and for the first time it is being sponsored by the UK's long haul specialists, which is also celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Other local pairings at Dunham Forest include: BIRCHWOOD Professional: Carl Edwards, 29, has been a professional at Birchwood for two years.

Amateur: Steve Hardman, is a 35-year-old site manager from Warrington. He won his club qualifying round with 40 points. He has been playing golf for 15 years and plays off a handicap of 11.

CALDY Professional: Alan Gibbons, 29, has been a professional at Caldy for 10 years. Amateur: Jason Cooper, is a 36-year-old sales representative living in West Kirby. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 70.

He has been playing golf for 20 years and plays off six.

DE VERE CARDEN PARK Professional: Anthony Middleton, 26, has been a professional at De Vere Carden Park for four years.

Amateur: Phil Crawford, is a 60-year-old company director living in Chester with his wife. He won his club qualifying round with a nett 70. He has been playing golf for 35 years and plays off 11.

FORMBY Professional: Andrew Withrup, 40, has been a professional at Formby for 12 months.

Amateur: Malcolm Morton, 53, lives in Liverpool with his wife. He won his club qualifying round with 39 points. He has been playing for 15 years and plays off five.

HOYLAKE Professional: Simon Hooton, 49, has been a professional at Hoylake for 29 years.

Amateur: Peter Davies, is a 28-year-old project manager living in Hoylake. He won his club qualifying round with a nett 66, has been playing for six years and plays off four.

LEASOWE Professional: Andrew Ayre, 40, has been a professional at Leasowe for 13 years.

Amateur: Steve Comber, 42, works as a fabricator and lives in Prenton, Wirral with his wife. He won his club qualifying round with a nett 67. He has been playing golf for 20 years and plays off a handicap of 14.

MERSEY VALLEY Professional: Andy Stevenson, 40, has been a professional at Mersey Valley for 12 years.

Amateur: Jonathan Wright, is a 30-year-old trainee actura living in Liverpool. He won his club qualifying round with 43 points. He has been playing golf for 18 years and plays off a handicap of 14.

NORTHOP COUNTRY PARK Professional: Richard Heginbotham, 37, has been a professional at Northop Country Park for 18 months.

Amateur: Simon Davis, is a 35-year-old software engineer from Chester. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 65. He has been playing golf for 20 years and plays off a handicap of 19..

CAPTION(S):

Geoff Berry of Bromborough Golf Club