13-year old Sophie Wheeler from Orsett in Essex, blew away the opposition to win the Abraham Trophy and claim the title of England’s most improved girl golfer.
13-year old Sophie Wheeler from Orsett in Essex, blew away the opposition to win the Abraham Trophy by one shot at Royal Cromer and claim the title of England’s most improved girl golfer.
Sophie had a net score of one-over par 75 on a breezy day on the north Norfolk coast. She finished a shot ahead of Staffordshire’s Georgia Pritchard (Beau Desert) and Wiltshire’s Laura Curtis (Whitley).
Sophie (image © Leaderboard Photography) started with a birdie four on the first and almost had a hole-in-one on the short ninth, where she holed a two-footer for another birdie.
“I’m very pleased and very excited,” said Sophie – whose success coincided with the 10th birthday of her sister, Amy, who is just taking up golf.
She was one of 23 players from all over the country who earned their place in the national final on the basis of handicap reduction – and last year she came down 12 shots to 16. This season she’s already been cut to 11 and her target for the year is a single figure handicap.
Sophie was encouraged to play golf by her father and enjoys the game because: “I like all the socialising, meeting new friends and improving. Also, every game you play is always different.”
Now she’s playing in the English U14 girls’ championship at Royal Cromer, which starts tomorrow, alongside the U16 championship. The English girls’ championship will be played simultaneously at nearby Sheringham.
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