BIG hitter Rebecca McGinley has done it again and will head to America to defend her crown.

McGinley will be going Stateside after booking a place on the plane courtesy of her second successive win in the American Golf Long Drive Championship.

The Prudhoe golfer went into the final as hot favourite after winning the 2015 event and going on to rank third in the world finals.

And McGinley didn’t disappoint as she hit the ground running in her opening head to head match with a mammoth drive of 318 yards.

McGinley didn’t have it all her own way though with a strong challenge being mounted by long drive newcomers Olivia Raybould, Lorna McClymont and Rebecca O’Grady.

All three registered drives in excess of 260 yards with finalist Olivia Raybould topping out at 285.

In the final McGinley sent out a drive of 299 yards in her first set of three and with Raybould unable to match it from her first or second set, she was crowned champion and booked her place in Oklahoma at the worlds.

“I’m so pleased to have defended my American Golf Long Drive title,” McGinley said.

“The competition was tough this year so I was pleased to get a couple of 300 yard drives on the board.

“Now I’ve qualified for the world finals I’m going to have to up my game, but I know if I put the work in I can do American Golf and Garmin proud and hopefully bring back a better finish than my third place last year.”

The Prudhoe golfer also received a hamper of products from Garmin as well as qualifying for the place in the World Long Drive Championship.

Daniel Gathercole, from American Golf said: “Rebecca has been a fantastic ambassador for American Golf throughout her year as Champion.

“Now Rebecca has a year’s more experience, and two titles under her belt, I’m really excited to see what she can do at the World Championship.

“Whatever her result though I know she will be a great champion.”