Surrey’s Lauren Horsford can look forward to playing a full schedule on next season’s Ladies European Tour after winning her place at Qualifying School in Morocco last month.
The 19 year old amateur from Wimbledon Park shot rounds of 67, 70, 70, 71 and 75 for a five round score of seven under par, and a share of 12th place, to book her ticket to the LET.
Horsford’s rise to the top rank of women’s golf has been nothing short of a meteoric. Just five years ago she was a junior club amateur playing off a handicap of 9.4, but now she is playing off scratch and preparing to play alongside some of the best professional golfers in the world.
A former Surrey Junior U15 champion, and a two-time Telegraph BMW Junior finalist, Horsford has been a student at The Golf College in West Sussex for the past three years, where she has combined her further education studies with a comprehensive golf tuition programme. Last May she was part of the Golf College team that won the Golf School and Colleges Final at Trevose, where she shot rounds of 69 and 70 to also win the individual title.
Based at Lindfield Golf Club, near Haywards Heath, The Golf College has seen many success stories since it was established in 2004, with players improving their handicaps while working towards a career in golf, whether it be the European Tour, the Ladies European Tour, coaching or becoming a PGA club professional.
Run by ex-European Tour Pro Paul Lyons, in partnership with respected tour coach and Sky TV pundit Dennis Pugh, the Golf College gives 16-19 year olds the chance to improve all aspects of their golf, while also ensuring further education qualifications.
Horsford is the latest in a growling list of Golf College graduates to have made a name for themselves in the golfing world. Of the students that have graduated from the college over the last 12 years, a round a quarter have elected to pursue a college career in America, while a similar percentage embark on the PGA training in the UK as assistant professionals. Of the remaining graduates, some undertake post-graduate studies at The Golf College, other move on to further education or into business, while some have embarked on professional playing careers in the UK.
Building on its success, The Golf College has recently announced a degree-level course to be introduced from September 2017. For more information on The Golf College visit www.thegolfcollege.com or call 01444 484467.
English players Gabriella Cowley, Lauren Taylor, Inci Mehmet and Lauren Horsford celebrate getting their 2017 LET card