Louisa earns spot in England squad

Louisa Brunt . . . hoping to carry on her success into 2017

LOUISA Brunt, who started her hugely-successful junior golfing career at Ashton-under-Lyne Golf Club, has continued her playing success and development in 2016.

The teenager has enjoyed several years developing her skills at Ashton with great encouragement from the professional staff and members and is still a regular face at the club as well as being a member at Royal Birkdale.

A key contributor to Lancashire and England girls, the 17-year-old has been rewarded for her dedication and success by being chosen as a new member of the England Golf women's squad for 2017, along with fellow Red Rose star Sophie Lamb (18), who hail from Clitheroe Golf Club.

GROUP

The group will start next year with on on Florida's Orange Blossom Tour as part of a plan to increase their playing opportunities.

The full squad of Louisa, Gemma Clews, Lamb, Georgia Price and Olivia Winning will play in the Harder Hall Invitational from January 4-7.

The tournament is one of five events which make up the Orange Blossom Tour and past champions include Charley Hull who won in 2012.

Rebecca Hembrough, the England Golf Women's performance manager, said: "We are always looking for ways to improve and do things better, particularly off the back of such a successful 2016 season.

"Increasing the number of playing opportunities for the English-based players is one way we're doing this in 2017.

"We want to give the players greater experiences of high quality events in different environments, with the world class support of our national coach Steve Robinson."

During the 2016 season the England women's successes included the European team championship, the European amateur, the British stroke play championship, the Scottish stroke play, the Women's Home Internationals - and a key contribution to the GB&I Curtis Cup victory.

In the past season, as well as playing regularly for England girls, Louisa won the Pleasington Putter, was third in the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters, was ninth in the English Women's stroke-play and played in the prestigious Daily Telegraph Junior final in Portugal for the second successive season.

With her great appetite for hard work, as well as he outstanding golfing talent, Louisa looks set for another great year in 2017.