GOATACRE’S John and Paul O’Dea proved a family combination to be reckoned with as they won the handicap title at the British Father and Son Championship last weekend.

Dad John, who is 73 and an 11 handicapper, teamed up with youngest son Paul, 32, who plays off 18, to triumph over 36 holes of two-ball betterball stableford at the Belton Woods club in Lincolnshire.

The O’Deas also got the better of former Ryder Cup and current European Tour pro Paul Broadhurst and son Sam.

John, who is the proprietor of Goatacre Manor Care Centre, said the silverware will hold pride of place in his trophy cabinet.

The 73-year-old, a member of North Wilts and Bowood golf clubs, who has been suffering prostate cancer since 2005, said: “It was a great win that I’ll definitely always remember because it’s always nice to do things like that with your son.

“I want to be an example to others of my age, what you can achieve and not to give up.

“My boys both live away from home now but they come back to play as much as they can.

“Last year, I did the European Father and Son Championships in Barcelona with my other son (Jonathan, 39) and myself and Paul have qualified to go there again this year as part of our prize for winning last weekend.

“It’s really nice to have done these things with my sons but the best innings of my life has been with my wife Margaret – we’ve been married for 46 years.”

Paul, who lives in London, said: “It was great to be able to win something like that with pops.

“He’s a golf fanatic and when I was younger, I just wanted to play every sport but golf but he eventually got me into it and I caught the bug.

“(The) cancer can be manageable but he’s had to have a quite a lot more treatment in the last year or so, so it’s great that he’s keeping himself so busy by playing golf.’’