Ellis Keenan from Sunningdale Golf Club who has just turned 18, has had a rather spectacular season to date.
In April she won the Surrey County Junior Championship at Hankley Common Golf Club by 16 shots from her nearest rival.
Later in April she won the Hampshire Rose an English Womens Golf Association Order of Merit Ladies tournament by 5 shots at North Hants Golf Club. At the halfway stage she was three shots off the lead, but she overtook her rivals with her afternoon round of 67 (6 under par) equalling the course record and included a fantastic back 9 of 30.
She then was selected for the Surrey Ladies 1st Team and played County Week at North Hants.
This month she gave herself an early 18th birthday present by winning The Bridget Jackson Bowl at Handsworth Golf Club by 6 shots with rounds of 68 and 70 – again another EWGA Ladies Tournament.
On the 15th July she became the English Ladies South East Champion, at Chipping Norton. Ellis won this on the 17th July beating Sian Evans from Kent 2 & 1 in the final.
Ellis’ next tournament is the British Girls being held in Monifieth in Scotland from August 11-15, and after that she will captain the Surrey team at Junior County Week which is being hosted by Middlesex at Wyke Green Golf Club.
She also plays for the ladies section at Sunningdale Golf club.
Ellis has been coached by Gary Smith, (garysmithgolf.com) for the past three years. Gary Smith has 12 years experience as an EGU Technical Coach to the England Men's Elite Squad and is the EGU Lead Coach to the England A Squad. Gary is rated as one of the best short game coaches in the country and has again been voted in Golf Monthly's Top 25 UK coaches.
Ellis is currently in 4th place on the 2008 EWGA Girls Order of Merit, and in 15th place on the Ladies EWGA OOM, with the points from her latest success still to be updated and added to the OOM.
