A TEENAGER with dreams of playing golf professionally has been given a major boost by a car dealership which has sponsored her US scholarship.

Lily Downs, 18, from Kirklevington, who is junior captain at Romanby Golf Club, is celebrating after being awarded a golf scholarship at the University of El Paso in Texas after several years of growing success.

Simon Bailes Peugeot in Northallerton is the main sponsor of the junior section of Romanby Golf Club, and allows young golfers to receive professional coaching and individual lessons from top players to help them compete in tournaments in the UK and Europe.

Miss Downs won the Andalucian Junior European Open, and was also a runner-up in the Daily Telegraph Junior championship at Quinta-do-Lago in Portugal, and is the ladies champion and ladies course record holder at Romanby.

Dorothy Edwards, junior co-ordinator at Romanby Golf Club, said: “We are so proud of all our young people and their achievements and Lily’s scholarship in Texas is the icing on the cake.

“She has worked extremely hard to reach such a high standard and I am sure will go on to be a star in the future.”

Simon Bailes, managing director of Simon Bailes Peugeot, said: “Everyone at Simon Bailes Peugeot is incredibly proud of Lily and her achievements and we will be watching her progress with great interest.”

Any young person wanting to try out golf or join Romanby Golf Club can contact 01609-778855.