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

Deborah Ricketts triumphed at the regional qualifier at Tehidy Park Golf Club with a net score of 78 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 6 September.

They will 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.

Deborah, playing off a handicap of 13, said: “I played really well on the day and had a real stroke of luck the night before the round at Tehidy.

“I managed to meet the Dorset Junior county champion and he talked me through the whole course. It really helped me!”

The 55-year-old added: “I started playing 14 years ago when I finished playing tennis. I joined to play with my husband and my friends.

“I love golf, travelling the world and playing a sport you love is fantastic. I can’t wait to see the course at Woodhall Spa and meeting more golfers like myself.”

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.

Bridgestone’s consumer sales and marketing director Farrell Dolan said: “We congratulate Deborah for getting so far in the competition and wish her all the very best for the final in September.

“Stories like this are what brings the Chase Your Dream Trophy to life and we will be wishing her all the best up at Close House.

“We have never engaged with quite so many golfers before and are thrilled with the success of the competition so far. We are able to communicate our brand messages to a captive audience, whilst also offering them an experience that they will never forget.”

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