A TRIP to Las Vegas awaits four North-East amateurs if they can hit the jackpot by coming through the regional final of Europe's biggest pro-am competition, the Virgin Atlantic Pro-Am Championship.

Barry Thompson and his Woodham PGA professional Ernie Wilson and Stephen Payne and his Hunley Hall PGA professional Andrew Brook are set to bid for Vegas later this summer.

Thompson took his first step towards a luxury trip to the grand final at the Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort between December 2-8 when he won the club qualifying competition with a nett score of 67.

He and Wilson now advance to St Annes Old Links Golf Club on Wednesday, July 13, one of 16 regional finals, where they will play one round of better-ball medal play.

Payne edged towards the luxury trip when he won the club qualifying competition with a nett score of 64. He and Brook now advance to Fulford Golf Club on Monday, July 11, one of 16 regional finals, where they will play one round of better-ball medal play.

The winners at each regional final will secure their place on board a Virgin Atlantic jet for the 36-hole Grand Final being staged at the Jack Nicklaus-designed SouthShore Course.

The tournament, supported by SkyCaddie and BMW, draws in more than 50,000 competitors from across Great Britain and Ireland and is now in its 27th competitive year.

The PGA National Pro-Am has a prize fund of 30,000, with the winning professional at the Grand Final taking home a cheque for 5,000.

Thompson, is a 58-year-old store keeper from Spennymoor. He plays off a handicap of 23. Wilson, 49, has been a professional at Woodham for 13 years. Payne, is a 33-year-old civil engineer from Redcar. He plays off a handicap of five. Brook, 47, has been a professional at Hunley Hall for 18 years.