SWINDON pairing Curtis Cole and Steven Hellis have qualified for the national final of the American Golf Nine-Hole Championship following an impressive display at the regional qualifying held at Cumberwell Park in Bradford on Avon.

They now progress to compete at famous Ryder Cup venue, The Belfry, on September 7-8 where they will battle it out for the honour of being of the best nine-hole pair in the country.

Cole and Hellis, both members at Wrag Barn Golf Club, were in excellent form in the qualification event despite awful weather conditions.

The pair battled through the elements to tally a remarkable score of 25 points across the nine holes and triumph by two from Dartmouth Golf Club duo Geraldine Sedgbeer and Ian Jenkins.

Cole and Hellis now join qualifiers from all over the UK and Ireland to play in front of TV cameras from Sky Sports in the final at the Belfry.

Daniel Gathercole, director of marketing and communication at competition sponsors American Golf. “Our Nine-Hole Championship is hugely popular. It gives golfers the chance to play championship golf after work and still be home at a reasonable time.

“Golf has struggled to find a place in people’s busy lives over recent years so we’re delighted that events such as the Nine-Hole Championship have proved so popular.

“It’s clear to us that golfers’ love of the game is still there, we’re just finding new ways to help them get out on the course more often.”

Entry to all of the American Golf Championships, including the American Golf 9 Hole Championship, is absolutely free and is part of the nationwide retailer’s drive to promote the game of golf and get more people out playing golf more often.