VALE Golf Club member Laura Day demonstrated the talent to accompany her ambition of becoming a PGA professional by winning the Worcestershire Ladies County Singles Championship.

The 22-year-old achieved victory at Malvern's Worcestershire GC courtesy of a semi-final win over last year's champion Karen Greenfield and in the final over Stourbridge GC's Sarah Cranton who she beat four and three.

It is the latest success for the former Worcester Sixth Form College pupil who is also a regular on Britain's amateur circuit where last year she was runner-up in the Midland Ladies Championship.

Laura also holds the ladies course record at Droitwich GC and although not ruling out life on tour it is in teaching that she hopes to forge a career.

However, making it as a club pro has always been hard for women largely because not that many play the game as youngsters -- a fact Laura readily recognises.

"It is harder for girls because not as many play or take the sport up and you are lucky if you have got one girl member in any club," said Laura.

"Obviously you need people of your own age to play with and I was lucky when I came here that we had a strong junior section and the competition was there."

The amateur circuit has granted Laura valuable experience and she aims to compete on the tour for at least another couple of years as she works on bringing her four handicap down.

Playing on the amateur circuit is a costly business, however, but she is fortunate to have the support of both her family and the Vale GC where she works when not practising.

It was as a 15-year-old that Laura first played golf and her father Geoff who introduced her to the game and plays off a very creditable nine, now finds himself caddying for his daughter in tournaments. She also shone at other sports including netball, hockey and tennis, but the lure of golf took over and Laura is now set for a career helping others improve at the game.

One of the attractions of the amateur circuit is that the players have the chance to play on some of England's best courses, and in the coming weeks Laura will be striding down the fairways of Wentworth and the Berkshire.

Laura is coached by King's Norton professional Kevin Hayward and is currently attempting to lengthen her hitting to put her in contention with the best amateurs.

As part of her golfing development she also spent eight months travelling in Australia where she played at Sydney's Cromer GC and has competed in the Spanish Open.

It is in the coaching side of golf that her future lies, however, and in the next five years could be emulating the Vale's own Caroline Griffiths as a club professional.