CLEETHORPES teenage golfer India Clyburn has followed in the footsteps of top professionals by winning the Midlands Ladies Championship.
The 15-year-old took a break from the British Open – watching her older sister Holly's superb performance at Hoylake – to win the Midlands final at Branston Golf Club, Staffordshire.
India visited the Open with her parents to support Holly who, competing as an amateur in the major, finished joint 26th – the highest placed English golfer overall.
Watching her sister competing alongside the top players in women's golf gave India an added spark for when she faced Emma Newlove, of Notts, in the final.
"It certainly made me want to play my best," said India, who won the matchplay showdown against Newlove, 4 and 3.
"It was inspiring to watch the best players in the world as one day I'd love to play in the Open.
"It happened at a crazy time with Holly playing.
"Luckily we didn't miss much of that because play on Friday, when I was competing, was cancelled due to high winds.
"It felt really good to win, particularly after the final event had been postponed for different days because of the bad weather.
"Previous winners have been Melissa Reid and Felicity Johnson, who are now both touring professionals, so I'm hoping this will be the first of some big wins and that I can follow in their footsteps."
India qualified for the Midlands Ladies Championship in July, finishing joint second in a field of golfers from Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire.
After beating Staffordshire's Emily Coleman in her quarter-final, she saw off the top qualifier, Florence King from Leicestershire, 3 and 2.
In the final against 18-year-old Newlove, India was two shots down after four holes.
But the Cleethorpes youngster rallied back with a few birdies before taking the spoils 4 and 3.
The Midlands title success built on her solid 13th-place at the North of England Championships this season.
Also, India won the Lincolnshire Golf Union Les Johnson Trophy last month at Cleethorpes Golf Club.
She shot a gross 73 to win the event, finishing eight shots clear of nearest rival Lilly Far, from Gainsborough.
