TEENAGER Victoria Wakeley-Jones has added the Gloucestershire Ladies Golf Championship title to the county’s Girls Championship she already holds.

Sixteen-year-old Victoria, a five handicap member at Minchinhampton New Golf Club, beat Alex Saunders (Bristol & Clifton) by 3&1 at Henbury GC.

Wakeley-Jones was just one up at the 15th hole of the final against Exeter University student Saunders but then won both the 16th and 17th holes to close out the match.

Sadly missing out on his daughter’s greatest triumph was dad Trevor, himself a 13 handicap member at Minch.

“I had work commitments in London over the weekend and it’s the first time I’ve missed seeing one Victoria’s big wins,” he said.

“It was nerve-wracking following the live scoring on the Gloucestershire Ladies Golf Association (GLCGA) website, especially when she was just one up at the 15th.

“Victoria finally got over the line in the girls’ championship last year after previously finishing third and second but this must rank as her greatest victory.”

Victoria, a pupil at Cleeve School, is moving on to Hartpury College in September when she will studying the equivalent of A-Levels and she hopes to forge a career in sport, ideally as a golf pro on the Women’s Tour like fellow Minch member Charlotte Ellis.

“As for the future, we have talked about her going to college in the States and it does seem easier for girls to earn golf scholarships over there than boys,” said Trevor, who credits Vicky’s improvement to two key members of her team.

“She has been coached for the last two years by John Jacobs at Cumberwell Park near Bath and for the last year she has done a lot of golf-specific work with fitness coach Simon Sveder-Cain, who is also a member at Minchinhampton.

“To come through five rounds in three days proves that she now has a excellent level of fitness and John and Simon are both really positive e guys.”

Victoria, who is studying hard for her GCSEs, will try to find time to prepare for the Welsh Girls Championships at Celtic Manor and she also has her Gloucestershire Girls’ title to defend.

Ebonie Lewis, a five handicap member of Knowle GC, won the second tier event at the county championships.

CHARLOTTE ELLIS began her Ladies European Tour Access series season when finishing 19th in the Swiss Ladies Open at Gams-Werdenberg Golf Club over the weekend.

Minchinhampton member Charlotte looked set for a top 10 finish after good opening rounds of 70 and 72 but slipped down the leaderboard with an untidy four over par 76 on the final day.

The tournament was won by Amy Boulden of Wales at the sixth extra hole in a play-off.

Charlotte is third reserve to get into this week’s Turkish Airlines Ladies Open on the main tour but is a definite starter next week when the Access Tour swings into Sweden for the Kristianstad Ahus Ladies PGA Open