FIVE golfers from Bridport & West Dorset Golf Club are all one step closer to a round of a lifetime with a European Tour star.

The quintet earned their place after getting through a regional final of the Bridgestone Chase Your Dream Trophy, run in partnership with England Golf.

Russell Weller, Dave Smith, Martin Drennan, Martin Horton and Ian Thacker kept alive their dreams of a place in the Pro-Am of the British Masters when they qualified at Exeter Golf and Country Club.

Now they will all head to England Golf Week in August at Frilford Heath Golf Club, Oxfordshire for the national finals of the Chase Your Dream Trophy.

The top players there will play in the Pro-Am of the Bridgestone Challenge and the winning team there will make a date for the British Masters.

Last year, in its debut year, the three overall winners partnered Ryder Cup hero Nicolas Colsaerts at the Pro-Am of the British Masters at Close House.

Weller, who scored a nett 67 in qualifying on the Devon, finished with the best score on the day and said: “Everything I seemed to hit went exactly where I wanted it to – of course I had a stroke of luck too! It was great to play with the lads on the day though and we all celebrated qualifying on the way back to Bridport.”

Thacker, who plays off a 16 handicap, echoed Russell’s sentiments: “It was just great to play competitively with great friends. I hope I can keep

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going all the way to the British Masters.”

Horton said: “It must be the beer we all drink! In all seriousness, we play together and keep pushing each other to get better – it’s all paid off and we can’t wait to play again at Frilford Heath.”

Drennan has experience in the tournament as he got to Woodhall Spa last year and he hopes that his dream golf will continue this year.

Smith added: “Bridport is a tough course, so we’ll get as much practice as we can on our home turf before all heading up to Frilford.”

Bridgestone’s consumer sales and marketing director, Farrell Dolan said: “All the golfers from Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club have done fantastically to qualify for the next round amongst a field of fantastic golfers.

“Our Chase Your Dream Trophy has captured the imaginations of many, many golfers. We want to build on our 2017 successes and create another competition that is etched in the diaries of English amateur players – including the guys from Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club.”