Kirsty fliesflag forScotland

Representing Scotland is always special for Perthshire golfer Kirsty Brodie.

And on Wednesday, the 17-year-old from Alyth will tee-up alongside the country’s best at the Girls’Home Internationals at Little Aston in Sutton Coldfield.

It will be a first appearance at the event - taking place from August 9-11 - for Strathmore Golf Club member Kirsty and she is relishing the chance to shine.

“It’s amazing to represent Scotland and it is different each time you do it,” she said.“I want to keep building on it.

“I’ve never played Home Internationals before so it’s going to be different, especially because it’s all matchplay.

“I know the English and Irish team pretty well, and we have an experienced team this year.

“I’ve been quite pleased with my own game recently so I’m just going to see how it goes.

“I’m really just hoping to enjoy it and I have still got next year to play in it, if I was to get picked.”

Making the big time is the long-term ambition for Kirsty, who has plans to head to university in America after finishing up at Webster’s High School in Kirriemuir.

She has been sold on a move across the Atlantic after hearing of her brother Michael’s current golf scholarship experience in South Carolina.

“I’ve always had an aspiration to be a golfer but I was quite surprised when I started to play for Scotland,”Kirsty explained.

“It’s been a lot of hard work and I’ve had to give up a few things.

“I started playing golf when I was four and competition-wise it was when I was around seven. It all started through my brother and dad playing golf and I just started to join in.

“Hopefully golf will be in my plans in the future. I hope to go to university in America on a golf scholarship.

“The big dream is to become a professional.

“There are quite a few girls who have gone down the American route - and my brother is doing it just now.

“That is what made me really think that it is a good idea. He is loving it out in South Carolina and has two years remaining.

“I’m quite open-minded and there are so many opportunities.”

The golf season will be nearing an end after Brodie competes at the Home Internationals. It’s been another year of learning.

“There are some Scottish events left but not many - we’re coming to the end of the year already,”said Kirsty, who has also represented Scotland at the European U18s.

“My schedule changes week to week depending on competitions, but this summer has been a lot busier.

“It’s good to play in more competitions because when winter comes it’s all about training.”

Plenty of time will still be spent on the course at Strathmore in the coming months - and Kirsty paid tribute to the club for helping her rise up the ladder.

Speaking of junior convener Iain Butchart, she concluded:“Iain has been really good and has always been involved in bringing us through and getting us into the different Scottish competitions.

“Last year was a big learning curve for me and this year I’ve been taking everything in my stride.”

Blairgowrie golfer Campbell Gibson is also in action at the Home Internationals this week.

He will be pulling on the Scotland shirt at St Annes Old Links from August 8-10.