DEVONGOLF
Young Sophie Page is a member of Exeter Golf & Country Club and East Devon Golf Club. She has been a member of the Devon Women's B team for a number of years and is also a member of the DevonGolf Girls' Elite Squad.
Sophie was part of the DevonGolf Girls' Elite Squad playing in the South West Girls' Championships at Wedmore Golf Club last month. Sophie's winning scores contributed to the Devon Girls' finishing is second place by just ½ a point. The team did themselves proud.
Keen to advance her experience, Sophie played in The Welsh U16's National Championship - her first in a competition of this calibre. Held at Neath Golf Club, the weather was perversely wet for most of the week and it was a tough track to play.
The Welsh U16 National Championship is a mixed gender Scratch competition, with the top spot being crowned the Welsh U16 Champion and the top girl being crowned the Welsh U16 Girls' Champion.
In spite of the difficult conditions, Sophie tied 9th overall with a lower overall gross score than many of Wales' top juniors, including internationals.
Sophie's scores were 79, 76, & 76 (231). This, however, does not tell the full story as the course was set up to a national competition standard which she had never before experienced, i.e. they changed a women's par five to a par 4 and numerous tees were on the men’s white/yellow tees. The pins were cannily placed, sometimes at the bottom of slopes on fast greens, something Sophie had not experienced before - and a challenge to which she rose.
Sophie scored the lowest girl's gross score and was crowned the Welsh U16 Girls' Champion and she also won the best nett score in the Championship.
This is an amazing achievement on Sophie's part and shows what can be achieved with determination and practice. Already, Sophie is a role model for young players as she assists Chris at Exeter G&CC and Andrew at East Devon GC with their Junior Coaching programmes - leading to her taking her PGA Level 1 Coaching exam in October.
With golf firmly in her sights for her future, Sophie starts her studies at Hartpury College in September.
Good luck, Sophie.
To see all scores, click here