Cramlington Schoolgirl to Play in World Junior Golf Championships
Young golfer Rachel Gourley
She may only be six years old, but despite her tender years golfing prodigy Rachel Gourley is already looking to follow in the footsteps of Tiger Woods.
Since taking up the sport 18 months ago, the Northumberland schoolgirl has revealed a natural ball-striking talent which has made her one of the country's best in her age group.
Now Rachel has qualified to play in the World Junior Golf Championships in San Diego, California in July.
The trans-Atlantic trip will see her pit her golfing skills against top young players from across the globe.
Previous winners of the prestigious event include Tiger Woods, former Open champion Ernie Els, former US Masters champion Trevor Immelman and the ex-world number one female player, Mexican Lorena Ocha.
Junior sports star Rachel, who lives in Cramlington, started playing when she was five, won her first tournament within months and regularly competes in events on the British junior tour.
She will be accompanied on the three-week trip to the US by her dad Tony, 37, a police officer, and mum Emma, 35, an accountant.
Mr Gourley, himself a three-handicap golfer, said: "Rachel is loving her golf and is very excited about getting over to America and meeting all the other girls.
"We are very pleased with how well she has done in qualifying for the world championships in just 18 months. This has come as big surprise and it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It will be very interesting to see how she fares against girls of her own age from powerhouse countries like the USA, Korea and Malaysia.
"Rachel is very keen, loves to play and practises five times a week. At her age it is all about enjoying the game and the competition with other young players."
Rachel got her first set of clubs as a fifth birthday present and won her first tournament later that year - the Northumberland Ladies' County Golf Association junior flag day held at Rothbury golf club. She went on to play on last year's Northumberland Junior Tour, competing with others girls aged from seven to 12, and finished fourth in the final order of merit.
The tournament she will jet to take part in this summer was first held in the late 1960s and is the biggest international junior tournament in the world. Young players from 54 different countries will take part this summer.
The tournament will be played over 54 holes, based at the Torrey Pines Golf Club, where Tiger Woods won the US Open in 2008.
Rachel, who is a member of the Arcot Hall club near Cramlington, will compete in the six and under section.
As well as the main tournament, she has also been invited to take part in the San Diego Junior Masters the week before.
Rachel won the British tour qualifying tournament in Nottingham last month to clinch her place in San Diego.
Her golfing hero is the American LPGA player Paula Creamer - nicknamed The Pink Panther - who she met at last year's Ladies British Open at Royal Birkdale.
She is coached at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at Wynyard Hall by the professional, Alex Wrigley.
