A Cornish golfer is one step closer to playing with a star of the European Tour after qualifying for the national final of Bridgestone’s Chase Your Dream Trophy, run in partnership with England Golf.

Judith Ryder, aged 62, from St Ives, triumphed at the regional qualifier at Tehidy Park Golf Club, Cornwall, with a net score of 76 shots and now goes forward to the final in England Golf Week at Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, in August.

The winner there will be England’s female Handicap Golfer of the Year and the top nine players in the field will play in the pro-am of the Bridgestone Challenge, the English leg of the Challenge Tour, at Luton Hoo on September 6.

They’ll be joined by the top nine players from the companion men’s championship, making up a total of six teams in the pro-am.

The most successful of these teams will go on to the pro-am of the British Masters, supported by Sky Sports, at Close House in Northumberland later in the same month, playing with a star of the European Tour.

The Bridgestone Chase your Dream Trophy is an annual event open to members of England Golf’s 1,900 affiliated clubs and features separate competitions for men and women.

Judith, playing off a handicap of 4, said: “The course at Tehidy was tough and I was pleasantly surprised about how I performed.

“The holes were demanding but my knowledge of the course helped me through.

Judith, who is one of seven siblings, added: “We lived quite close to a golf course when I was a child. I was signed up as junior member by my father for my fourteenth birthday.

“My handicap dropped very quickly and I’ve been playing from a handicap of four since 16. I look forward to continuing my golf journey with Bridgestone and England Golf.”

Last season, England Golf and Bridgestone worked together to run a similar event called the Driveguard Trophy for club golfers. It made a dream come true for South West players Zack Rosen, Carl Broomfield and Peter Carr.

The trio eventually found themselves as guests of Bridgestone at the British Masters supported by Sky Sports, playing alongside 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell.

For more information about Bridgestone and its Chase Your Dream concept, visit www.nomatterwhat.uk.com