SWINDON golfer Tom Ruddle bowed out of the Long Drive Championship in the national final.

Ruddle had won the regional title when he recorded a distance of 362 yards in Bristol, much to his surprise, but when he went to the national final at High Legh Park Golf Club in Knutsford he was well down the leaderboard.

“When I got to Bristol the leader already hit 357 yards so I was thinking this is going to be tough, while another guy in my age group hit 359 yards,” said the 29-year-old.

“My first shot only went 334 yards, but I knew I didn’t catch it, then my second ball carried 333 yards and rolled to 362, I shocked myself.”

This meant he was through to the national final, comprising of all the other regional winners with a place in the world final at stake.

The winner of the national final would get the chance to compete in America for the world crown and prize money of $125,000.

Sadly for Ruddle, he was unable to advance through to the grand final after falling short with a distance of 331 yards.

“I didn’t go as well as I wanted to but I was happy with how I hit it,” added Ruddle.

“The competition was very strong, I only hit 315 in the seeding round but it was a great experience.

“I then lost in the preliminary round, my 331 to my opponent's 354 yards - the guys were hitting it extremely long and the biggest one was 390 yards.

“I’m not disappointed at all. The guys were swinging it in excess of 145 mph with extra long shafts which helps with the distance.

“I had a standard length driver, so to hit 331 (is superb), I feel next year if I had the right equipment I would be able to compete (even better).”

Over the last year five years, the competition has been won by American golfers with last year’s winner Tim Burke driving the ball 394 yards, which is six yards shy of four football pitches.