Shropshire golfer Emily Price lands Euro glory

Undeterred by high winds at Gullane Golf Club in East Lothian, Scotland, the 13-year-old scored 71, 70, 74 on the par-72 course to finish one under.

It meant the teenager, who plays as a junior at Cleobury Mortimer Golf Club, was able to lift the trophy for the first time after finishing in the top five in the prestigious event in each of the last five years.

Her stellar rounds included a total of 11 birdies and she ended six shots ahead of second-placed Sitizulaikhaa Shaari and seven ahead of fellow Brit Shannon McWilliam in the under-14 age category.

"She's done well to get high placings before, but this is the first time she's won the European Championships. It's a real reward for the commitment she shows to the sport," said her father, Kelvin.

"She has been playing golf since she was five. Now she puts in long hours on the green and practices five days a week as well as getting tuition from her coach, Alan Partridge."

Emily, who triumphed over a full international field of 20 girls from 12 different countries, is also the current Shropshire Schools under-18's champion.

But her rapid progress in the sport has left Shropshire officials scratching their heads to assign her with a handicap.

"Emily plays off five at the moment, but Shropshire don't give a category of under five for golfers of her age. But these were gross not nett scores and go to show how well she has done," added her father.

Dave Pain of Cleobury Mortimer Golf Club added: "Emily's scores are unbelievable for someone her age considering the usual links course conditions and coastal wind made it a very tricky."

Emily is now preparing to compete in the English School Girls Championships in August.