GOLFING prodigy Rachel Gourley is relaxing on home soil after finishing in the top 10 in the world’s biggest junior tournament.
Six-year-old Rachel – who won her first competition at the tender age of five – joined more than 1,200 talented young golfers from 54 countries at the world junior championships held in San Diego, California.
She set herself a target of finishing in the top 10 in her age group – and achieved it by coming eighth with scores of 70, 67 and 75 behind the Japanese winner Saroi Iijima.
Rachel, who lives with her dad Tony and mum Emma in Cramlington, Northumberland, finished as the highest placed European player, female or male, in any age category.
Out on the Torrey Pines course, where Tiger Woods won the US Open in 2008, she had to withstand temperatures which soared to a scorching 41 degrees during the final round.
Rachel competes regularly in events on the British junior tour and qualified for the San Diego championships in April.
A member of the Arcot Hall club near Cramlington, she played practice rounds on four days at Torrey Pines before teeing off for the three-round tournament, which featured lightning fast greens and heavy rough.
During the first round she hit 15 of the 18 greens in regulation but struggled with her putting, something she put right in the second round after getting in some extra practice on the putting green.
In the final round she was in the second last group out and was in fifth place until dropping shots late on.
Dad Tony, a police officer and three handicap golfer, said: “The championship was Rachel’s first overseas tournament and also her first event playing with international competitors.
“At the beginning of the week she set a target of finishing inside the top 10 and was pleased to achieve her goal.
“She really enjoyed the week and viewed playing in the different conditions as a very good learning experience.
“This was especially true of the weather, as the temperature reached 41 degrees during the final round, which was unseasonably hot even for California in July.
“Coming from Northumberland we’re more used to playing in the cold and we did take our waterproofs in case it rained. It was a large event which was well attended by spectators and that was also a new experience for Rachel.
“Several players attended with their own coaches and caddies from their home countries. The event was covered by US television and also Japanese national TV, which followed their players during all three rounds.
“Rachel enjoyed meeting and playing with girls from other countries and she was drawn with players from the Philippines, Malaysia, Japan and the United States.
“She particularly enjoyed parading behind the Union flag with other British competitors during the championship’s opening ceremony, which involved all 1,200 competitors parading with their national flags.”
