An 83-year-old amateur 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.

Phyllis Stevens, who plays at Knebworth Golf Club, triumphed at the regional qualifier at Rookery Park Golf Club with a net score of 73 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.

There 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.

Phyllis completed her successful round in the company of 14-year-old Luca Thompson, the teenager being born eight years after Phyllis took up the sport with her sister in 1995.

Phyllis, playing off a handicap of 21, said: “I still can’t believe how well I’ve done.

“I came with absolutely no expectations and got to play on a very nice course with some fantastic golfers.”

Phyllis added: “I only began playing when my sister moved to Bermuda, because she told me it was their hobby in their downtime. I wanted to play with her when I visited.”

Last season, England Golf and Bridgestone ran 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 who 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