ALL GOLFERS be prepared to feel envious about how Kendal man Nigel Metcalfe scooped not one but four trophies in the first-ever golf competition he entered during a week's holiday in the Algarve, Portugal.

Mr Metcalfe, a former captain of Ambleside Cricket Club, decided to swap his bat for a driver only last year when he joined the Carus Green club.

The 26 handicapper who lives at Swallow Close on the Helme View estate, had only ever played recreationally with friends at weekends.

He had never considered entering a club competition until his neighbour Andrew Lee, who lives a few doors away from him, persuaded him to join him on the golfing trip to Portugal, with the help of sponsorship from his firm, Fire Training and Safety Ltd.

Playing on four different custom-built courses, Mr Metcalfe surprised himself by collecting the singles trophy after posting the highest score of 41 points on three of the days in the Stableford format 'Algarve Select' competition.

And for good measure he added a doubles trophy on the final day, though not with his neighbour Andrew after the pair of them had been split up under the event rules.

"It was an amazing week, " Nigel who is a radio engineer with Dolphin Telecomm, "but I did get a load of grief from Andrew about it all week."

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