A GOLF trip of a lifetime awaits amateur James Carash and his Cricklade Hotel PGA professional, Ian Bolt, if they get through the next stage of Europe's biggest pro-am competition - the PGA National Pro-Am Championship.

Carash took his first big step towards a luxury five-day trip to Turkey when he won the club qualifying competition with a nett score of 53.

He and Bolt now advance to the regional final on May 25, at Cardiff Golf Club, when they will play one round of better-ball medal play.

The winning professional, in the regional final, receives £500 and there are valuable prizes for the top amateurs.

The winners of 16 regional finals, throughout Great Britain and Ireland, will enjoy an expenses-paid luxury trip to compete in the Grand Final on the PGA Sultan course at Antalya Golf Club, where they will stay at the five-star Sirene Hotel and Beach Resort between December 12-16.

The PGA National Pro-Am is in its 23rd year and has a £30,000 prize fund, with the winning professional receiving a £5,000 cheque.

Cricklade shop fitter Carash, 28, has played golf for two years and has a handicap of 12.

He hopes to follow in the footsteps of his father Trevor who reached the final two years ago, finishing ninth with Bolt, 54, who has been Cricklade Hotel's professional for 17 years.

This year's tournament is expected to receive entries from more than 100,000 club golfers from throughout Great Britain and Ireland.