Six-year-old golfer to play in US tournament
A six-year-old Northumberland girl who picked up her first club less than two years ago has qualified for an international tournament.
Rachel Gourley will be competing in the Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego in July. Previous winners have included Tiger Woods and Ernie Els.
Her first clubs were a Barbie set she was given for her fifth birthday.
She will compete against talented young golfers from around the world.
Rachel has played and beaten children twice her age and has also beaten her father Tony.
He said: "Originally at the start of the year we used to play for pocket money but she started to beat me too often so that quickly stopped."
Rachel, who is coached on Teesside, said she was looking forward to the tournament in California.
She said: "I think it will be really good because I'll get to meet other girls who play golf."
Her coach Alex Wrigley said Rachel's talent stood out.
He said: "It's a very big deal. All the big names have won this competition. They were a little bit older than her as well.
"They weren't in it when they were six years so she's in it before those guys."