WILBERFOSS golfer Ross Cleary moved a step closer to the World Long Drive Championship after winning through to the final of the American Golf Long Drive Championship, the official UK qualifying event.

Big hitting Cleary had previously qualified for the regional finals of the nationwide Long Drive Championship with victory at the first round event held at his local American Golf store in York.

Having won through to the regional final, he produced a fantastic display of power hitting to secure the regional title in the 'Over 45s' category.

Along with the regional title, Cleary received a Garmin S20 Approach GPS watch from the championship sponsor along with entry to final at High Legh Park, Cheshire on August 19, where he will line-up alongside nine regional winners and last year’s champions under the spotlight of Sky Sports’ cameras.

Daniel Gathercole, director of Marketing and Communications at American Golf, said: "We’ve had over 1000 people taking part in the Long Drive Championship for the second year running and the standard has been incredible.

"We were the first Long Drive event that Rebecca McGinley, our Ladies Champion from last year, ever took part in and she has gone on to become third best in the world. Having seen the talent on display this year we’re really excited to see if anyone can match or even better Rebecca’s achievements.”

The winner of each category – Open, Senior and Ladies – wins exemption for the 2017 World Long Drive Championship in Oklahoma where they will represent American Golf and Garmin on the biggest stage.

Entry to all of the American Golf Championships, including the American Golf Long Drive, 9 Hole, Junior, Ladies and Senior Championships, is completely free and is part of the nationwide retailer’s drive to promote the game of golf and get more people playing golf.