MARTYN Thompson will be hoping to complete an impressive hat-trick when he lines up in the regional final of the prestigious Lombard Trophy today.

The Parkstone professional, who won the event with Andy Boyd in 2003, will be bidding to reach a third consecutive grand final when he tees off on his home course.

Thompson and partner Paul Rickard will be battling to win a place alongside 15 other pairs in the showpiece final at Gleneagles, the venue for the Ryder Cup later this year.

The Lombard Trophy is one of the stand-out tournaments on the PGA schedule with an £80,000 prize fund including £12,000 for the winning professional.

RAF officer Stuart McColl, who is stationed at Blandford Garrison, won his Ashley Wood qualifier and will play alongside club professional Jonathan Shimmons.

Other local pairs taking part include Neil Rowlands and Matthew Groves (Broadstone), Adam Sawyer and Oliver Clough (Dudsbury), David Bartlett and Alan Vickers (Bulbury Woods), Peter Rodgers and Jamie Boynton (Barton-on-Sea), Nigel Tokely and Andy Crouch (Remedy Oak) and Scott Porter and Steve Lewis (Dorset Golf & Country Club).

Trophies will be presented by Lombard director of asset finance David Coles.