LOUISA Stirling became the youngest Bolton Ladies Golf Champion after two impressive performances clinched the title on Friday.

The 15-year-old Turton High School pupil held her nerve against five-times champion and leading qualifier Helen Braddock, of Old Links, to win her semi-final 2 and 1, before destroying Bolton's Grainne Pendlebury 7 and 6 in the final.

Louisa, a member of the famous Harwood golfing family, played beautifully in the final at Great Lever and Farnworth and was three under par after the 12th hole when she clinched the Preston Scratch Trophy. Pendlebury, who had beaten Carol Helme from Old Links 2&1 in her semi-final, had to settle for second best for the fourth time.

Louisa, who only started playing golf three years ago and has been taught by her father Neil, a two time champion at Harwood, felt confident from the start of the competition.

She said: "I finished fourth qualifier and although I was playing well I knew that the semi (against Braddock) would be the tough one as she is a previous winner. I started nervously but she never went more than a hole ahead and I got the hole back and then took the lead.

"After that win I thought I could beat anybody and was very relaxed going into the final."

Louisa, who plays off seven, is the club champion at Harwood and a member of the Lancashire Girls Under-18s team. She was second after the first round of the Lancashire Ladies Championship at Fleetwood and only missed qualifying by one shot.

Her uncle Donald is a former professional European Tour player and currently doing well on the Seniors Tour.