A potential new star of Oxfordshire golf was born when 14-year-old Kate Turner beat rivals considerably older than herself to win the county girls' title at Burford.

The young nine-handicapper, who has been playing golf for only two years, shot a gross 81 to land the title by three shots from Tadmarton's Samantha Round, who is four years her senior.

Turner, a member of both North Oxford and Studley Wood, is a beneficiary of the foresight of the Oxfordshire Ladies County Golf Association and the generosity of members of the Oxfordshire Golf Club, near Thame.

The self-styled Honorable Oxfordshire Gentleman's Dining Club donated money, raised from the social events, to be used to encourage young girls to take up the game.

When Turner, who lives in Wheatley, showed an interest and an aptitude for the game, the OCLGA used the money to send her to top coach Tim Barter for tuition.

Turner, whose grandmother Pam Twynam is a prominent member of North Oxford, also received instruction from Tony Williams, the pro at Studley Wood.

This coaching has reaped an immediate dividend and should encourage other girls to take up the sport.

The field for the Oxfordshire Championship was disappointingly small, with just 11 competitors, so a boost for the game at this level is clearly a necessity.

There was heartache for Katherine O'Connell, who had to be disqualified after coming first in the handicap event.

The youngster, playing in her very first event, was completely unaware that her handicap at Tadmarton Heath had been cut from 45 to 42, and so her nett score of 67 had to be scrubbed.

The winner was Lauren East (North Oxford), who beat Giverney Porter (Chipping Norton) on countback after both had finished with nett 70s.

See separate story for full results