CIRENCESTER Golf Club head pro Ed Goodwin bought his amateur partner James Harding a new set of golf clubs after they were pipped by one shot in the Lombard Trophy – Europe’s biggest pro-am.

Goodwin and Cirencester club member Harding, who works in the design department at Dyson’s in Malmesbury, led the 36-hole better ball tournament at the halfway stage after a blistering back nine on the first day when they posted five birdies in seven holes to finish on a five-under par 67.

They were still on the heels of the leading pair in the 14-strong competition when a three-shot swing on the 35th and penultimate hole at the Pestana Vila Sol golf resort on Portugal’s Algarve, turned the result on its head.

Eventual winners, PGA professional Adam Powell and his amateur partner, 18-handicapper Matt Leach from Hartford Golf Club, Cheshire, came from off the pace on the first day with a superb finish.

While the Cirencester pair got in trouble off the tee and had only their second bogey of the day, Cheshire amateur Leach holed out for a net eagle to draw level.

And then Powell’s birdie on the last which completed a 10-under-par round of 62, snatched the £12,000 winners’ cheque by a shot.

Goodwin and Harding, who had matched their opening round of 67 with some more scintillating golf on the second day, had to settle for the £7,500 runners-up prize.

“It was an awesome experience and we both played out of our skins,” said Goodwin. “It just came down to being unlucky on a couple of shots.

“We were looked after unbelievably well. It was how I imagine it must be like to play on the Tour. James played so well I have bought him a new set of clubs and a Sky Caddie watch out of the winnings.”

More than 100,000 golfers entered the competition through normal club medals and the best progressed via 16 regional qualifiers to get to the grand final in Portugal.