A TRIO of hot-shot local golfers holed out for success last Wednesday at the regional qualifiers of the Glenmuir British Club Professionals Championship.

Robert Joyce of West Essex Golf Club in Chingford, Mark Bishop (Toot Hill GC) and Richard Layton (Loughton GC) all fired brilliant rounds at Enfield Golf Club to finish in the top 14.

They now look forward to teeing it up in the £75,000 final of the tournament in June over 72 holes at the Duke's Course in St Andrews, the home of golf.

The qualifier, which saw over 80 top professionals from around South East England competing, was won by Robin Mann of Suffolk who registered a five-under-par 67.

Joyce and Bishop were tied for second, both scoring 71. Joyce, 39, said: 'I wasn't really thinking about qualifying when I started the round. Perhaps that worked in my favour because I was just concentrating on hitting the ball well.

'I've been playing well lately and it all came together. I was one over after the front nine but I made two good birdies on the 13th and 15th to get back under par.'

Joyce is no stranger to the major leagues of golf. In the 1980s he enjoyed a year on the European Tour after coming fifth in qualifying at La Manga in Spain. He finished 160th in Europe that year and lost his tour card, though he later went on to win the Essex Open.

Bishop, 30, had a more adventurous round at Enfield, taking a double bogey at the eighth after losing a ball but hitting back with five birdies.

He said: 'I was delighted to qualify because it was a very good field and it was the first time I've got through to the final. I've never played in St Andrews before and I'm really looking forward to it, I've heard the Duke's is a fantastic course.'

Layton, 29, looked unlikely to qualify when he reached the 15th tee three-over-par. But he forged birdies at the next three holes, each time hitting approach shots to within eight feet and holing the putts, to score a 72 and finish joint sixth.

He said: 'I felt I had a chance and luckily the putts went in. Playing at the Duke's will be one of the highlights of my career and I hope I play well and make the cut, though I'm sure the competition will be strong.'

An added bonus for the top ten in St Andrews will be a place in the PGA Cup team to take on the United States later in the year.