Thirteen-year-old Morgan Pressel made the global headlines recently when she competed in the US Women's Open at Southern Pines won by Karrie Webb. But closer to home there is another young teenager proving to be a real hit on the golf scene. Her name is Emma Gilmore (13), a member of Mountbellew golf club.

Gilmore started playing golf in 1999 when playing off a handicap of 41. Now after her recent successes she is playing off 15.

She played on the Connacht Junior Girls Interprovincial team back in April. Then at the recent Mountbellew open week she really began to show her form and her handicap started to drop dramatically. Her great run of results read: Sunday - runner-up in a nine-hole strokes competition with 30 nett; Monday - won the first nine with 22 points; Tuesday - won 18 hole stableford with 48 points, losing three shots; Wednesday - runner-up in nine-hole stableford with 22 points; Thursday - winner of 18 hole stableford competition with another 48 points losing another three shots; Friday - winner of nine-hole with 24 points; Saturday - runner-up in 18 hole competition with 42 points, losing a further shot.

She attributes her recent progress to her parents John and Brid, who have both been past captains of Mountbellew and to Charlie McGolderick, the Connacht coach from Enniscrone and Phil Murphy and Lynn Sweeney, the Irish team coaches.