CHARLOTTE AUSTWICK put together the best competitive round of her life as she continued her sensational early season form by scooping the Whittington Ladies scratch tournament.

The Tadcaster golfer fired a five-under-par 67 - a ladies’ course record - in the first round as she dominated the event at Whittington Heath Golf Club in Staffordshire on Tuesday.

Austwick, who last month won the prestigious Sunningdale Foursomes with partner Jack Clarke, followed up with a second round 74 to beat Cheshire’s Charlotte Leathem by three shots.

For the 23-year-old, who has been making huge strides this year with coach Alastair Grindlay, the professional at Easingwold Golf Club, it has reinforced the hard work she has put into her game over the winter and has given her huge confidence ahead of her first big test of the season - the Helen Holm Scottish Open Stroke Play Championship at Royal Troon from April 24 to 26.

“I hit every green in regulation and I was on the par fives in two,” Austwick said of her brilliant opening round. “I just made it so easy for myself. I played the lowest round I have ever shot in a competition. It was great.

“I won the Sunningdale competition with Jack but now I had to do it on my own - to get a result myself. It was a good feeling.”

She added: “It was nice in the morning, but conditions got more difficult in the afternoon. It was a pretty decent field too and I beat Charlotte, who won it last year. It was just surreal. It was a complete surprise (to have won) until the prizes were announced.

“Alastair is over the moon and has just said that whatever we are doing, we need to keep doing it. I have just got to continue it. I feel in control of my golf ball. I can shape the shots and see them and play them. I am confident in doing that and I have never really had that before.”

Austwick also revealed that a chat with Henry Wharton, the former British, European and Commonwealth super-middleweight boxing champion, at Fulford Golf Club had given her a fresh perspective on winning.

She said: “He said you have to celebrate your wins, that you need to remember them and take everything positive from them. He said that when you have done it once you know you can do it again and that you know what it is all about.

“For someone like him to say that, a sportsman of his calibre, puts it in a different perspective. I have to use it for the next time and re-affirm it.”