Kentish Express Ashford & District
Darcie still blazing a trail
DEVON BOUND: Darcie Smith
who competes in the final
of the Abraham Trophy this
weekend Darcie Smith heads for Devon this week to compete in the final of the Abraham Trophy.
The competition at Tiverton Golf Club on Sunday is to find the most improved under-18 player in the country, with all 20 finalists competing in the English Girls under-13 and under-15 championships being held at the same venue later in the week.
The 13-year-old from Lydd, who plays at Chart Hills, is reigning Trailblazers Junior Tour champion and holder of the Joan Austen Trophy, awarded by the Kent Ladies Golf Association to the most improved player in the county.
Smith came through a complex qualifying process, after submitting her six best net scores between March 1 2012 and March 29 2013, with at least one being carded away from her home club.
The field involves eight area winners from across England and the next best 12 players.
Paul Sherman, of Ashford and Ally Mellor both shot seven-under-par rounds of 65 to share the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer Charity Pro-Am title at Chart Hills.
Both players produced spectacular rounds, Sherman six-under-par after the front nine holes, while Mellor recovered from being two over after two holes.
He reeled off birdies at the 11th to the 14th, parred the 15th, before going on another charge from 16 to 18, finishing the back nine in only 29 strokes.
The event raised funds for the charity, the brainchild of Tenterdenbased Benn Barham, set up following his recovery from the illness.
He said: “I brought together all my friends and contacts in the game to raise funds for a charity that is close to my heart.
“The day went well but wasn’t just a one-off event. I want to continue raising people’s awareness.”