Arcot Hall-based England international Rachel Gourley added victory in the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship to her growing list of on-course achievements.
Sponsored by the Ryder Cup legend and major champion, who won the event himself in 1997, this year’s tournament took place at Walton Heath Golf Club.
Rachel, 17, came through a tense final round to earn her victory, edging out friend and England teammate Lottie Woad by a single shot to claim the girls’ title after closing her week with a one under-par round of 73 for a wire-to-wire victory.
Having birdied holes 15, 16 and 17, Rachel held a five-shot lead playing the 18th in the final round. However, a quadruple bogey eight almost opened the door for Lottie.
Having holed her putt for eight on the final hole to win, Rachel said: “I can’t even remember the putt. But I do know that I didn’t forget to fist-pump.
“This means a lot. It’s my best win so far and to do it like that… well I’m always going to remember it aren’t I? I’m disappointed in a sense that I was five ahead and put myself through all that, but I’m more proud of the way I eventually finished it off. I don’t even want to think about what it could have done to me if I’d lost.”
Meanwhile, 16-year-old England international Harley Smith won the boys’ event by 13 shots with Northumberland’s Angus Buchanan finishing in a tie for second place.
