REBECCA McGinley put the North-East firmly on the golfing map with a third place finish in the World Long Drive Championship in the United States.

McGinley’s feat at the Winstar Casino and Resort is made all the more incredible by the fact the World Championships was only her second ever long drive event after she won the trip to the finals with victory at the American Golf Long Drive Championships.

“It’s an amazing feeling to have come this far in World Championships,” said the Prudhoe golfer, who is a Ladies European Tour Access player. “It was only May when I had a go at qualifying at the Gateshead American Golf store and now I’m the American Golf Champion and officially the third best women’s long driver in the world! I’ve had an amazing time and am so grateful to have had the opportunity to show what I can do.”

McGinley started the competition slowly as nerves took their toll. As the rounds progressed she took her qualifying drives from 271 to 291 to 310 yards.

Because of the early nerves she had to compete in a sudden death qualifying round, which she won by three yards with a 307 yard drive, securing a spot in the three way final shootout against three-time world champion Sandra Carlborg and 2013 Champion Heather LeMaster.

Up against two of the most experienced long drivers in the world, McGinley pulled out her longest drive of the tournament with a 311 yard monster, but she couldn’t quite match LeMaster’s 318 and winner Carlborg’s 321 yard efforts.

McGinley said: “What started as a bit of fun has turned into an incredible, life changing experience. Sandra and Heather are two fantastic competitors that the American Golf competition has given me an opportunity to take on. I just need to work on my long drive swing and I’ll hopefully come back next year to perform even better.”

The 25-year-old aims to join the Ladies European Tour after an amateur career which saw her become the Durham junior champion four times. She was also the leading qualifier at the Northern English Ladies Championship last year.