KELLY Tidy is rapidly making a name for herself on the golfing circuit - and she is only nine years old.

The Hardy Mill Primary School pupil has played in 10 representative matches since April and had a top three finish in all of them.

Included in that were a number of appearances with Lancashire girls, where she is the youngest competitor by some four years.

Course record

And a few weeks ago at Felixstowe Ferry golf club she broke the course record for the short course junior event by seven shots after recording a 32 for the nine holes.

She and the other members of the Lancashire Girls Golf Association team are coached by Gareth Benson from Hart Common and over the last 18 months she has reduced her handicap by 15 shots and now plays off 30.

She has been a member of Lancashire girls since she was seven years old under the supervision of Alice Walker, the current county junior organiser.

All this has put her in the running for a top award in a national competition to find the country's most inspirational young people.

The awards honour the country's brightest young talent, individuals who have already excelled in their chosen fields but who dream of achieving even more.

Daring yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur, who won worldwide admiration when she single handedly sailed round the globe is spearheading the search which ends in an exclusive awards ceremony in London on Friday.

Kelly, however, is more concerned with success on the golf course and is constantly practising to improve her game at her local course at Dunscar.

Recently she competed in the President's junior prize at the club, where she recorded a six under par 65 to finish second but the highlight of the season came at Blackpool's North Shore course where she won a Lancashire girls competition.

Her love of the game has also seen her watching some of the best in the business and she was recently at Sunningdale to see some of the world's top women's golfers in action in the British Women's Open.

And that has led to her striking up a friendship with a number of the players.

Her dad Paul said: "Because she has been to so many of the top events, a number of the players have got to know her.

New putter

"Kerrie Webb, the world's number one, from Australia is very friendly towards her and the two of them now write to each other regularly.

"Another, Mardi Lunn gave her a brand new putter recently while she has also received 36 autographed golf balls.

"They are all smashing with her and they really do give her a lot of attention and advice."

At the moment Kelly is playing in the Greater Manchester Junior Open at Sale and looking to enhance her reputation as a rising star of the game.

And her main target this year is to get her handicap down to 26.