A golfing duo from Broke Hill GC are heading to Dubai this weekend bidding to become the UK’s top amateur matchplay pair.

Gary Copley, 39, and golf partner James Silcox, 21, have already battled through five rounds to reach the final in Dubai, where they will take on nine rival pairs from across the country in front of the Sky Sports cameras to land the glitzy prize.

The Golf Care matchplay championship is the UK’s biggest amateur matchplay event and this will be the second time in three years Broke Hill GC has been represented at the Dubai finals.

Silcox, whose handicap is + eight, admits he is counting down the days until he and Copley (handicap + two) battle it out at the Els Club.

He said: “This is closest it gets to being a tour player and we can’t wait.

“We had to go through five matchplay rounds, playing courses all over Kent, generally giving shots in every match.

“Our route to the final was not plain sailing, a birdie was needed on the 18th to take it to extra holes in our first round match.

“Two of our rounds were played at Broke Hill.

“The advantage of being at home was huge and our competitors were continuously impressed by the high standard of the course.

“Two even talked about joining.”

He added: “The regional final at Forest of Arden was the toughest test, with the greens running at 11 stimpmeter and the wind getting up on the back nine.

“This, together with the Sky Sports cameras being on you and the constant thought of getting to Dubai, made this round the toughest we have ever played as a pair.”

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