The former Warrnambool-based solicitor, who now lives in East Bentleigh, has fond memories of his time in the south-west.

“I was pretty happy to have it because I worked in Warrnambool in the early ‘80s and met my wife (Kate) in Warrnambool and proposed on Lady Bay beach,” he said.

“She died in October, so that’s why it’s a bit special (to come back).”

Lombard was one of four golfers to benefit from a Leila Rose Foundation prize of a round with Warrnambool-raised Leishman.

Alison and Andy Leyden had the winning bid but were unavailable and passed the opportunity onto Kingston Heath member Lombard.

“I got Paul Randles, who I met in Warrnambool in the 1980s) and who was working as a physio at the hospital, and Ian (Zeunert) who I also met around that time and is still living here and Steven  (Grahame) who I play with regularly in Melbourne (to join me),” he said.

A healthy crowd gathered to watch Leishman – a four-time winner on the PGA Tour – play at his home course.

Lombard, speaking to The Standard before teeing off, said he was “a bit more nervous than I thought (I’d be)”. 

“It was fantastic until I found out there might be a crowd following us,” he joked.

“I am off (a handicap of) 31, so I am hopeless unfortunately.

“None of us are stars and I am the embarrassment.

“The one advantage is there will be a lot of people who will find the ball when it goes into the bush.”

Lombard said he was grateful for the chance to have a hit with Leishman.

“You never get this close to the great players – I won’t ever again, certainly not the way I hit it,” he said.

Leishman, who is home in Australia until December 30, said he was happy to be part of a worthwhile cause.

The Leila Rose Foundation is a Warrnambool-based charity which offers support to families with childhood cancer.

It has existed since 2011.

“It’s good we’ve got a chance to raise some money for the Leila Rose Foundation and just have a good day with these guys who get a chance to do something they wouldn’t otherwise do,” he said.

Leishman said he enjoyed playing at Warrnambool – a course he knows well.

“I’ve had 60 or 61 (round here). Oh yeah, definitely (I could better that)...it’s whether I can try hard enough for long enough to better it,” he said.

He rates the eighth hole which is “risk and reward” as he favourite.