England call-up a par-fect boost for golf ace Belsham
JUNIOR GOLF
A WHITLEY Bay golf prospect had success off to a tee in 2018 after a memorable season on the greens.
Rosie Belsham, 16, who studies at Newcastle High School for Girls, has enjoyed a year to remember - culminating in an England call-up.
That came in September, when she was selected for the national girls’ under-18s squad for the 2018/19 season.
Belsham said: “I am so proud to be part of the squad and it is great for Northumberland golf my friend Jess Baker, who plays at Gosforth Park Golf Club, is also in the squad.
“To have two girls form Northumberland in a national squad of nine girls is great.”
On the back of her England selection, Belsham was also chosen for the Junior Open European Young Masters event in Oslo.
The competition consisted of team and individual events for men and women.
Belsham added: “I had many highlights in the summer but this was probably my proudest moment.
“As one of a team of four going away to play in a different country it was fantastic.
“The opening ceremony with all of the team in our England suits, carrying the flag, it felt really special.
“We were in third place right up to the final hole of the competition when one of the German players birdied the hole to move ahead of us.”
Belsham contested a wide range of tournaments throughout 2018.
She secured second place in her first national competition of the year - the Scottish Girls’ Under-18 Open Championship
She said: “It was the first time I have been in the leading group on the final day of a national competition (at under-18 level there are always three or four rounds of 18 holes spread over three days) and I was really nervous going into the final round.
“In the end I was happy I managed to deal with the nerves to finish second in an international field of 150 players.”
Success in Scotland led the teenager to Ireland for the Irish Girls’ Under-18 Open at Roganstown, Belsham finishing 13th while her England side missed out on a firstplace finish in going down to Sweden.
She said: “In May I was selected as part of the England under-16 girls’ team to play in Madrid against Spain but unfortunately could not play because of my GCSEs.
“However, in July I was chosen to