Kentish Express Ashford & District
FIRE FAILS TO HALT CLOE’S TOUR CARD BID
Golf
Golfer Cloe Frankish dodged a fire in her apartment to win a Ladies European Tour card for the first time.
The 18-year-old was playing a practice round at Q School in Marrakech, Morocco, when mum Claire learned about the fire which was caused by a boiler explosion.
They salvaged what they could and moved into a hotel, with Chart Hills member Cloe putting the ordeal behind her to secure her place on tour.
Claire said: “The boiler had exploded and caught fire. Luckily, we were out on a practice round at the time.
“We’d been gone an hour and I had a text to say the apartment was on fire. I thought it was a joke. We raced back and the whole thing was on fire. We lost quite a bit of stuff.
“We were sharing with two other girls and they were all wondering if they’d have any stuff to wear. We managed to source some stuff and, after all that, Cloe played five rounds of excellent golf.”
Some players may have let the fire get to them but Cloe used it as motivation. She finished six-under-par with rounds of 72, 71, 69, 70 and 72 securing 16th place and making her the only English girl to win her full card.
Claire said: “After the fire, Cloe said to me, ‘Mum, if anything, it’s made me more determined not to come back to this place.’
“They play four rounds and then there’s a cut. She comfortably made the cut and finished 16th. The top 25 get cards. Last year it was the top 30, so it’s getting harder.
“Of all the English girls in the field, she was the only one to get a full European card, which is a great achievement.”
Cloe, who professional only turned last January, has some big events coming up on the European Tour.
Her campaign starts on February 1 with the Oates Vic Open in Australia, a tournament carrying a prize fund of $ 650,000 (about £ 375,000).
Cloe simply wants to retain her card in 2018 but beyond that is fiercely ambitious.
Claire said: “Cloe wants to play in the Solheim Cup (women’s version of the Ryder Cup). The next one is in 2019. She’s got some work to do but it’s realistic, without a doubt.
“I’m biased but I think she’ll go to the top. She has a natural talent for golf – she just needed to pursue it.”
Cloe has already landed a clothing deal with Galvin Green and has signed with a management company. She is also an ambassador for Cancer Research UK Kids and Teens.
Companies interested in sponsoring Cloe should email clairefrankish@yahoo. co.uk