SIX local golfers are chasing glory in Europe's biggest pro-am competition, the Lombard Trophy.

West Essex amateur Bill Chard and his club's PGA professional Robert Joyce, as well as Woolston Manor amateur Andrew Wilder and pro Paul Barham and Wanstead's Peter Gare and his club's PGA professional David Hawkins will be teeing up at the regional finals of the competition in June.

With a luxury five-day trip to Portugal for the grand final up for grabs, there is sure to be plenty of stiff competition in the better-ball medal play format.

The Lombard Trophy is now in its 12th year and attracts more than 100,000 golfers from across Great Britain and Ireland.

And with a prize fund of nearly £80,000, which includes £10,000 to the winning professional, it remains Europe's most prestigious pro-am event.

The grand final, contested by the winners of the 16 regional finals, will be held on the ocean course at Vale Do Lobo in Portugal in September and the West Essex, Woolston Manor and Wanstead pairings will be doing their utmost to secure their place.

Chard, 55, won the chance to partner Joyce by finishing first in the club's qualifying competition with a net score of 67.

Loughton-based Chard has a handicap of ten, while his 45-year-old partner Joyce has been a professional at the club for 12 years.

Their shot at glory will come on June 21 at King's Lynn Golf Club.

Wilder and Barham will have their day of destiny at Old Ford Manor Golf Club on June 19. The 21-year-old Wilder beat off the competition of his fellow Woolston Manor amateurs with a net score of 69 in his club's qualifying day.

Wilder, from Chigwell, plays off a handicap of three having taken up the sport at the age of seven.

Barham, 40, is six months into his time as a professional at Woolston Manor.

Gare and Hawkins will also be at Old Ford Manor on June 19.

Gare, who won his club's qualifying competition in April with a net score of 65, is a software consultant living in Wanstead.

He plays off a handicap of six and along with Hawkins, 35, who has been a professional at Wanstead for 12 years, will be looking to progress in the competition.

The winning pro in the regional finals receives £475 and there are also valuable prizes for the top amateurs.