Briony Bayles is heading to the US.
The highly promising Bishop Auckland golfer, who won the Durham County Championship last year, will be attending Kansas State University on a golf scholarship.
Kansas state head coach Kristi Knight announced that Briony has signed a letter of intent and will be joining the golf squad later this year.
“Briony possesses a wealth of tournament experience and a strong, solid golf swing,” Knight said. “She is a talented golfer and a young lady of great character. She fits in with our current family and will be a wonderful addition.”
Briony has enjoyed an impressive amateur career so far. She is part of the England Golf northern girls’ squad and won the St. Andrews Junior Ladies Championship in 2016. She also won the Ping Ladies Championship with Shannon O’Dwyer in 2016 and the first Northern Golfer Junior Champion of Champions title.
“It was a special year,” said Briony. “Winning at St Andrews was the main thing. I wasn’t even going to enter the competition because it clashed with a Northern Counties event but my dad said I should go up for the experience.”
Briony is now focused on heading to the US. “I really want to go there because it will help me towards becoming a tour golfer. Whether that is on the LPGA Tour or the Ladies European Tour, that’s what I would like to do.”