Coleford-born trainee professional Kirsten Nicholls has been touring the Wales and West Region pro-am circuit with a trio of Lilley Brook members this summer.

They struck the jackpot at last in the pro-am at Lansdown and took first prize with a score of 12-under-par 130, winning on countback.

She shot an impressive one-over-par 72 to share 12th place. Her day's reward was £180, her best return so far. Her score was one under the par for ladies, as well.

Kirsten, aged 25, has been playing golf since she was 11, initially at Perranporth in Cornwall and then at the Forest of Dean club. She played in the Gloucestershire girls and was on the fringe of the county team.

But her greatest moment was qualifying for the Daily Telegraph junior championship at Sea Island, Georgia, in 1997-98 when she played off a scratch handicap.

She turned professional two years ago at the Raglan Parc club near Monmouth. She is attached to Cardiff club Radyr for training purposes and recently passed her first year's PGA exams.

Kirsten first linked up with Lilley Brook members Stuart Whistler, Art Latchford and Terry Pockett when she was allocated to their team for the Cheltenham club's pro-am in June.

She said: "They are a good group of lads and we have a laugh together. We don't go to win, just to have a good day out, so Lansdown was a huge bonus.

"They were paying £50 a month into a society to play away-days but didn't enjoy the places they were going so decided to enter selected pro-ams instead."

They have now played half-a-dozen times as a team and previously visited Langland Bay at Swansea, Stinchcombe, Newport and Radyr.

Later she excelled on her own at Hamptworth where she shot a par round of 72 to share seventh place and earn £130.