AN amateur golfer from Ludlow is one step closer to playing with a star of the European Tour after winning a prestigious Bridgestone event.

Eddie Rowland won Bridgestone UK tyre division’s DriveGuard Trophy at Ludlow Golf Club, which has put him on course for a round at the Pro-Am of the British Masters, supported by Sky Sports, in October.

The six handicapper, who went down from a seven handicap following his tournament success, won the medal competition with 63 shots net, which now puts him on a journey to a regional final in June, followed by a Pro-Am appearance at the Bridgestone Challenge – a Challenge Tour event – at the end of August at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire.

And if Rowland is part of the winning team at Heythrop, he will then go on to play at the Pro-Am of the British Masters, supported by Sky Sports, at The Grove in October, where he will play with a household name of the sport.

The delighted Ludlow golfer said: “It was just one of those rounds – everything went to plan.

“The 18th was a gorgeous hole, I hit the ball and it bounced off the road and over the green before I chipped it up for a 10ft putt. My friend’s call me ‘Steady Eddie’ and this time that nickname has paid off!”

Ludlow Golf Club also held a Queen’s Birthday competition, an event made possible thanks to hard work of volunteers led by Fran Sanders.

An amazing 128 golfers took part – many of them dressed in red, white and blue – and the winning team of Shane Hobson, Martin Downes, John Adams and Jayne Smith scored an excellent 123 points.

They were just two points ahead of Rex Tudor-Hughes, Fred Stevens, Dave Isherwood and Steve Round.