New Malden golfers are one step away from the national final.

Golfers Charlie Panton and Jostein Olsen have qualified for the regional finals of the American Golf UK Long Drive Championship.

Mr Panton and Mr Olsen took on thousands of participants at the local qualifying competition held at the New Malden American Golf store.

Mr Panton progressed with a drive of 228 yards, while Mr Olsen recorded a strike of 345 yards.

The regional finals will be held at Ageas Bowl American Golf store in Southampton, where the pair will be competing against the region’s best golfers for a place in the National final.

Matt Bacon, Head of Events at American Golf says: “The American Golf Long Drive Championship has grown to be Europe’s premier Long Drive competition and as such, the quality of participants has grown hugely.

“Anyone progressing to the regional finals like Charlie and Jostein has done incredibly well. It’s been great to see some of the guys hitting even further than they thought they could.”

If the pair qualify for the national final, fans will be able to tune into Sky Sports to watch the local duo take on the best that Europe has to offer at Chester racecourse in August for a spot at the 2018 World Long Drive Championship in Oklahoma.