A GIRL who only took up golfing four years ago has won a major national competition.

Anna Scott, 16, was crowned under-16s champion at the Golf Foundation Weetabix Age Group Championship 2002 Grand Final at the Marriott Forest of Arden Golf and Country Club in Meriden, Warwickshire.

The youngster, from Shotley Bridge, near Consett, County Durham, was one of 103 regional finalists to take part in the two-day event on the professional course.

Anna, a member of Consett and District Golf Club, was delighted with her performance. "It was a dream come true to be able to play at The Forest of Arden," she said.

"To win in the final topped off a great couple of days for me."

The youngster was seven shots clear of the rest of the pack after 36 holes on the professional course.

Proud dad Dave Scott said she comes from a golf-mad family. "Both my parents play and I used to - now I just drive my daughter around from one competition to another," he joked.

The youngster took time out between tournaments last week to collect her GCSE exam results. And she delighted her parents with top results of an A*, seven Bs and two Cs.

Other winners at the golfing tournament included John Parry, from Harrogate Golf Club, who won the under-16 boys contest and the Duke of York Trophy for the best individual gross score, finishing one under par.

The Golf Foundation, which has run the contest for 15 years, aims to help develop and promote junior golf throughout the British Isles. Former winners include European Tour professionals Justin Rose, Lee Westwood and Ian Garbutt.