Hannah, 10, heads for world championship
06 June 2005

A 10-year-old Wiltshire girl will help to fly the flag for England in next month’s US Kids Golf World Championship.

Hannah Turland, a member of ELGA’s South-West Birdie Squad, has a handicap of 15, hits her driver a good 200 yards - and has been playing golf for only two years.

She took up the game alongside her twin brother, James – who plays off 16 - and is also competing in the world championship in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA, from July 27-30

The twins, who will be 11 next week, qualified through last season’s Wee Wonders grand final in Scotland, when James won his age group and Hannah was runner-up in hers.

“They are very excited about this,” said their father, Lee. “They are looking forward to it, talking about it and they have a serious chance of winning.”

The twins took up golf after attending a Tri-Golf taster session at their local club, Tidworth Garrison, which they joined. Both got their first handicaps last year – Hannah’s was 27 – and they’ve made rapid improvement.

“They are very close but they are both very competitive and want to outdo each other!” said Lee.

Hannah has already tasted success in another competition. She won her section in last year’s YMG Junior Masters national final at Celtic Manor and came second in the grand final at La Manga.

“Hannah likes to win and she doesn’t get phased by anything,” said Lee. “She makes mistakes, as everyone does, but she’s got a swing to die for and people can’t believe that such a little girl can hit the ball with such power.”

Birdie Squads are part of ELGA’s Sport England, lottery-funded World Class training programme.

Hannah Turland