SARAH Owen, who qualified for the grand final of the Golf Foundation Age Group championships, sponsored by Weetabix, is hoping one day to turn professional.

SARAH Owen, who qualified for the grand final of the Golf Foundation Age Group championships, sponsored by Weetabix, is hoping one day to turn professional.

The 17-year-old member of Rushmere Golf Club had the biggest two days of her golf career last week at The Warwickshire and described it as a "fantastic experience."

Sarah plays off a 20 handicap, but for her two rounds at The Warwickshire she had to play off scratch.

She said: "On the first day I was a bit overawed. The TV cameras were there and there was a big crowd, and I was like a nervous wreck. There was a high class field with players of international standard.

"I always knew I would be up against it, but I played much better on the second day. It was the first really big competition I have ever played in, but I enjoyed the whole thing and would like to have another go at it."

Yet Sarah's progress at the game has really been encouraging. She has only been playing golf seriously for a year. When she was a border at the Royal Hospital School at Holbrook, Sarah didn't have the time.

She had first picked up some clubs a few years ago, but it was not until this time last year that she decided to work on her game.

In the past year she has reduced her handicap from 32 to 20 and before winter really sets in hopes to have got it down ever further.

Sarah said: "The ladies at Rushmere have been a big help to me and I've had plenty of encouragement from them."

Coached by Sarah Wilson at the Colchester Driving Range, Sarah is going to work flat out in the next 12 months on her game.

She will only take part time jobs leaving plenty of other time to concentrate on her golf.

"My ambition is to be a professional who plays on the tour," she said.

Considering what she has achieved so far, watch out for the name of Sarah Owen in the future.

Two other Rushmere juniors, Joe Simpson and Andrew Newman qualified for the regional finals at Channels, near Chelmsford, but failed to make it to the grand final.