A TEENAGER from Ross-on-Wye has been offered a scholarship at a top American university after winning a prestigious competition in Miami.

Kate Bibby, aged 16 from Ross on Wye Golf Club, travelled to American in December to play in the Doral Publix Junior Classic by the Orange Bowl played at the Trump National Golf Club in Doral,

Miami.

The tournament is one of the biggest and most prestigious junior golf events in America and is attended by many of the top American university coaches looking to recruit some of the best junior

players in the world.

The tournament now in its 40th year hosted over 600 competitors from 45 countries and the competition and course was as tough as usual.

Bibby, playing in the event for the first time set a goal of finishing in the top 20, but after the first round found herself top of the leaderboard.

Kate said “I know the course is very tough and with lots of the top girls playing that it was important for me to just focus on my game and then see where I ended up.

"I shot a 73 and I knew it was a very good score on this golf course and had a feeling I’d be up there, but quite surprised to see my name at the top of the leaderboard."

As the tournament progressed the teenager managed to continue her good form with scores of 73, 75 and 75 and found herself winning by two strokes and being crowned the 2020 Under-18’s Junior girls champion.

Due to Bibby being so young she could theoretically win the title two more times.

“I really just stayed focused on my game and tried to ignore all of the hype and what the other girls were shooting," she added.

"In the final round I managed to stay steady especially on the back nine and let the other girls have to play some great golf to catch me.

"I am absolutely on cloud nine to win such a big event it is just so special”

Bibby has just accepted a full golf scholarship to the University of Nebraska in America.

Tim Hall, her golf coach at Ross GC said: “All of us at the club are all thrilled to see Kate perform so well on the world stage.

"She has worked hard on her golf for so many years and to be rewarded with a win like this and to also receive a golf scholarship to a top American University is just amazing.”

Oli Leet, has been Bibby's putting coach since she started playing golf for eight years.

Bibby's dad, Tim who also attended university in America, but on a tennis scholarship, added: “Kate has said from a very young age that she wanted to

play US college golf, her mum and I have encouraged this but emphasised that her academics must come first, and she has done very well academically along with her success in her golf so we are really excited for her that she will get this wonderful opportunity.

"She doesn’t enrol at the university until September 2022 so she has some time to keep improving and playing in these big events so that she will be ready to contribute to the university team straight away.”

Bibby’s schedule continues with the UAE Junior World Championships in Dubai where she lives for half the year.

She is also set to compete in the Ladies Amateur British Open along with the English Ladies Open.