Budding golfer smashes club records (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Budding golfer smashes club records

3:55pm Tuesday 1st September 2009 in News By Michael Dias

AN 11-year-old girl has driven, chipped and putted her way into the record books at a Welwyn Garden City golf club.

Ella Ofstedahl fought off competition from women four or five times her age to win the Ladies’ Club Championship at Mill Green Golf Club, with the second lowest score in the club's history.

The golf-mad youngster, who has a handicap of 11, was competing in the annual 27-hole Ladies’ Club Championship at the club in Gypsy Lane.

Ella was top of the league tables after the first 18 holes, and was crowned champion in the final leg of the competition the following day, winning by a margin of nine shots.

Ella’s total of 115 shots over 27 holes is the second-lowest winning score in the club’s history, although she is technically the all-time champion as the golf course has recently been lengthened.

Ella was five years old when she first started playing golf at Mill Green Golf Club. Her successes include finishing in the top third of US Kids World Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina, and finishing third in the European Championships in May 2009.

Ella, who lives in Bedfordshire, enjoyed a burst of TV fame at nine years of age, when she sank an amazing 60-foot putt in a competition against former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance at Wentworth. The feat was shown on the BBC as part of the 2007 World Matchplay final.

General manager of Mill Green Tim Hudson said: “Ella is a clearly a very talented young lady.

"She plays golf brilliantly, but at the same time remains level-headed and unspoilt by her success.

"We are amazed and delighted that the ladies’ course championship record is now held by an 11-year-old girl, and wish her every success in the future, be it in the golfing world or elsewhere.”