A postman who fulfilled a lifelong ambition by becoming a member at Fort William is set to represent the golf club in Europe’s largest pro-am.

Jason Long, 43, will tee up alongside his PGA Professional Ricky Duckett at The K Club regional final on July 13.

The winners will head into an £80,000 grand final over Gleneagles’ PGA Centenary Course, host to last year’s Ryder Cup, on September 1-2.

Long lived close to the course at Fort William as a child and would jump over the fence and onto the course with a couple of friends to play a couple of holes after school.

After dropping golf for a number of years in favour of football Long returned to the game aged 30 when his wife bought him a membership to the club.

“Growing up so close to the course there were only ever two things I wanted to do as an adult,” he recalled. “Buy a house and become a member at Fort William.

“We used to sneak in and play a hole or two as kids and I always dreamt of finally being able to become a full member of the club.

“To represent Fort William in this tournament will be amazing, and if we could make it to Gleneagles then it would be something to talk about for years!

“I’m nervous but fully looking forward to it – and I’m feeling refreshed as I’ve just got back from a family holiday in Spain.

“Now I just need to get some practice in and see how well we can do when we get there.”
Long, who also enjoys running, has a good relationship with pro Duckett who has travelled to play golf in destinations including the Middle East, Asia and South America.

“I’ve had lessons with Ricky and he just breaks everything down so well, he puts it in layman’s terms for you,” he explained.

“I’ve known him for a long time as he was the assistant at the club when I joined.
“Hopefully he’ll keep me straight when we go out there for the regional final.”   

The Lompard Trophy, Regional Final, The K Club, Monday July 17, 2015

Ashbourne

• Professional: John Dwyer, 41, has been a professional at Ashbourne for 16 years. He is a former PGA Professional champion and PGA Cup player, having competed in the GB&I team in 2000, 2003 and 2007.
• Amateur: Martin Wright, 43, lives in Ashbourne. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 69. He plays off a handicap of 17.

Beaufort

• Professional: Mark Heinemann, 40, has been a professional at Beaufort for six years.
• Amateur: Brendan Fitzgerald, 68, lives in Dublin with his wife.  He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 68. He plays off a handicap of 12.

Blarney

• Professional: Alan O'Meara, 43, has been a professional at Blarney for nine years.
• Amateur: Aidan Holland, is an airline employee from Ballincollig. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 68. He plays off a handicap of seven.

Cahir Park

• Professional: David Ryan, 39, has been a professional at Cahir Park for 12 years.
• Amateur: Denis Ryan, is a 60-year-old driver from Cashel. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 68. He plays off a handicap of 11.

Carrickfergus

Professional: James Orchin, 31, has been a professional at Carrickfergus for five years.
Amateur: Peter Wadsworth, is a 64-year-old estate agent from Carrickfergus. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 64. He plays off a handicap of 15.

Co. Cavan

• Professional: William Noble, 43, has been a professional at Co. Cavan for 13 years.
• Amateur: Jim McDermot, lives in Cavan.

Deer Park

• Professional: Daniel Beattie, 30, has been a professional at Deer Park for two years.
• Amateur: Visham Dhuromsingh, is a 32-year-old sales assistant from Sutton. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 71. He plays off a handicap of 15.

Dunmurry

• Professional: John Dolan, 50, has been a professional at Dunmurry for 20 years.
• Amateur: Michael Lamont, is a 46-year-old managing director from Dunmurry. He won his club qualifying round with a score of 41 points. He plays off a handicap of 15.

Forrest Little

• Professional: Tony Judd, 51, has been a professional at Forrest Little for 25 years.
• Amateur: Christopher Rickard, is a retired 64-year-old from Swords. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 70. He plays off a handicap of nine.

Fortwilliam

• Professional: Ricky Duckett, 40, has been a professional at Fortwilliam for five years.
• Amateur: Jason Long, is a 43-year-old postman from Belfast. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 65. He plays off a handicap of 19.

Foyle

• Professional: Derek Morrison, 36, has been a professional at Foyle for 15 years.
• Amateur: Sean McEleney, is a 33-year-old electrician from Londonderry. He won his club qualifying round with a score of 40 points. He plays off a handicap of 18.

Glasson

• Professional: Philip Murphy, 59, has been a professional at Glasson for five years.
• Amateur: Eugene Murtagh, 55, lives in Garvagh. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 69. He plays off a handicap of four.

Greenore

• Professional: Robert Giles, 44, has been a professional at Greenore for 17 years.
• Amateur: Padraig Kelly, is a joiner from Newry. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 68. He plays off a handicap of four.

Heath

• Professional: Mark O'Boyle, 43, has been a professional at Heath for 13 years.
• Amateur: Liam Connell, 58, is a telecom store supervisor from Portlaoise. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 66. He plays off a handicap of 17.

Killeen

• Professional: Brian Cosgrove, 34, has been a professional at Killeen for four years.
• Amateur: Niall Andrews, is a 42-year-old sales director from Naas. He won his club qualifying round with a score of 43 points. He plays off a handicap of 10.

Killiney

• Professional: Leo Hynes, 34, has been a professional at Killiney for three years.
• Amateur: George O'Connell, is a 50-year-old company director from Blackrock. He won his club qualifying round with a score of 36 points. He plays off a handicap of five.

Killymoon

• Professional: Gary Chambers, 50, has been a professional at Killymoon for 20 years.
• Amateur: Maurice Rafferty, 50, works as an are commander with the fire and rescue service and lives in Cookstown. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 68. He plays off a handicap of 24.

Loughgall

• Professional: Vivian Teague, 50, has been a professional at Loughgall for eight years.
• Amateur: Simon Wallace, is a 46-year-old carer from Portadown. He plays off a handicap of 17.

Lurgan

• Professional: Peter Hanna, 56, has been a professional at Lurgan for five years.
• Amateur: Jimmy Cummins, is a manager from Craigavon. He plays off a handicap of five.

Newlands

• Professional: Karl O'Donnell, 51, has been a professional at Newlands for 26 years.
• Amateur: Noel Hickey, 66, lives in Naas. He plays off a handicap of 14.

Nuremore

• Professional: Bobby Fallon, 32, has been a professional at Nuremore for 10 years.
• Amateur: Seamus Finnegan, lives in Carrickmacross. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 66. He plays off a handicap of 12.

Portadown

• Professional: Paul Stevenson, 48, has been a professional at Portadown for 25 years.
• Amateur: Matthew Lavery, is a 28-year-old teacher from Loughgall. He won his club qualifying round with a nett score of 64. He plays off a handicap of 10

Wexford

• Professional: Liam Bowler, 37, has been a professional at Wexford for 11 years.
• Amateur: Paul Hynes, is a club secretary and lives in Wexford. He won his club qualifying round with a score of 37 points. He plays off a handicap of 12.

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