A GOLFING whiz from Tadley is looking for sponsorship to play in an American Golf Tournament.

Gemma Burgess, from Tadley, is hoping to play in the US Kids Teen World Championships in Pinehurst, North Carolina on July 26-28 after being declared eligible to play.

The 12-year-old (nearly 13) started lessons at seven-and-a-half-years-old, and fell in love with the game. She was awarded her first handicap of 34 at 10-years-old and has been playing in the junior league at her local club, Bishopswood Golf Club, in Tadley, ever since.

Gemma’s mother, Terry Burgess, said: “We had no idea that she would be eligible for the Teen Worlds competition, it was amazing to find out. We knew that she was good but didn’t realise that she was this good.”

Her first Hampshire win was in October 2016 at the Autumn Meeting when she won The Dorothy Hayward Salver at Basingstoke with a 93 Gross, 63 Nett score. From October 2016 she went on to drop her Handicap by 15 shots and won the La Moye Salver for The Most Improved Hampshire Girl with the biggest handicap drop in October 2017. She also was runner up in the Douglas Cup in April 2017.

Gemma also qualified and played in the Junior European Open in Malaga, Spain in November 2016. She has played on The EZGO Tour in Dorset and won several trophies. She qualified and played in the Wee Wonders in St Andrew's in Scotland in August 2017, placing 15th in her age category. She also won and qualified at Farleigh Golf Club for The American Golf Championships and went on to tie 9th at Gainsborough in the final.

More recently Gemma has played in the US Kids Junior European Championships in East Lothian in Scotland and finished top 10 out of 25 girls in her age group.

Terry added: “We desperately would love her to be able to go but we need to raise about £4,000 for my husband and her to make the journey at the end of July. This would be an amazing opportunity for her and we are appealing to anyone for Sponsorship to get her there. We are happy for Gemma to advertise any sponsorship she may get being on shirts or golf bag.”

For more information about the trip or to support Gemma, go to: gf.me/u/i2m76y.