IN GLORIOUS weather, the pairing of Shaun Welch and Elliot Bates, from Broke Hill Golf Club, advanced to the Matchplay Championship grand final being held in Dubai next month, after scoring 41 Stableford points in the hotly contested men's pairs event at the South Regional Final, hosted by Marriott St Pierre, in south Wales.

Beating off thousands of other competitors from across the UK and Ireland, the pair won the right to compete in the concluding event of the UK's largest amateur golf tournament, the Matchplay Championship.

Having reached the final stage of their very own Race to Dubai, the pair will be flown out to the Emirate, where they will enjoy seven nights of luxury accommodation at the Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel and three days' competition at the world-renowned Els Club.

Filmed exclusively by Sky Sports, the pair will have the chance to shine in front of a TV audience usually reserved for the world's best players.

"Our Matchplay Championship experience has been fantastic from the very first round. The regional final, with photographers and the Sky Sports cameras, was amazing and we're thrilled to have qualified for the grand final in Dubai," said Shaun Welch.

"Every pair has won five matches to get to this stage, so we knew we would have to play well to get through, but we're really looking forward to the opportunity of bringing the Matchplay Championship trophy back to Broke Hill."

"It's been a great day here at Marriott St Pierre and we have seen some tremendous golf from the players involved," said John Woosey, managing director of the JRW Group, which organises the Matchplay Championship.

With the North and South regionals now complete, 36 golfers have booked their places in Dubai during May 7-14.

However, entries for the 2011/2012 Matchplay Championship are now open, including a brand new men's singles event. For more information, visit www.matchplaychampionship.co.uk