Golf ace Charlotte Austwick tees up world Czech date (From York Press)

Golf ace Charlotte Austwick tees up world Czech date

10:51am Saturday 12th May 2012 in Golf

GOLF graduation day has come early for Univerity of York student Charlotte Austwick.

The 20-year-old, who is in the second year at the city’s university, has shone so regularly in British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) events that she has been selected for the Great Britain golf team to compete in the World University golf championships to be held in the Czech Republic in July.

Austwick, a long-time member of Pike Hills Golf Club and more latterly Sandburn Hall GC, where she is coached by England women’s coach Steve Robinson, also gets to play regularly at Fulford GC under a scheme whereby the city’s university students get a reduced rate.

In the time she has taken up her degree studies in accounting and business finance management at York, she has come through several competitive tests with soaraway colours.

She opened her BUCS campaign with first place in the south-eastern strokeplay qualifier at Princes GC in Kent and was second in the northern equivalent at St Annes’ Old Links in Blackpool.

In the Formby Leveret, a national opener for all women players, she tied for fourth spot and was the leading Yorkshire player, a feat boosted by breaking gross 70 for the first time and also bagging a hole in one.

And at the St Andrews’ home of the game, Austwick finished fifth in the women’s event of the Royal & Ancient Scholars’ tournament and was the highest-placed English female student.

She repeated that latter feat when fourth on count-back in the BUCS individual finals at the West Lancashire GC.

Now Austwick, who in her time at Fulford has seen her handicap drop to -1, is set for the world championships at the Ypsilon golf resort in Liberec from July 3 to 6 as part of a seven-strong team – three female and four male players.

She said: “I am very excited about being selected and once my exams are over at the end of May I will be focusing to make sure I am prepared enough to perform at my best in the Czech Republic.”

TOP North Yorkshire trainers including Richard Fahey, Brian Ellison, Tim Easterby, Kevin Ryan and Mark Johnston are expected to be teeing up at a charity golf day at Malton & Norton GC tomorrow, writes Steve Carroll.

The handlers, along with Kevin Darley, George Duffield and Paul Hanagan, are taking part in an event organised by the York-based Wildcard Racing Syndicate to aid Racing Welfare and Barney’s Challenge.

The action is expected to start from 1.45pm and anyone wishing to donate can either come to the course or text BARN47 £1 to 70070. Alternatively, they can visit www.racingwelfare.co.uk Barney’s Challenge will see Paul ‘Barney’ Bamford use a hand cycle to travel from Redcar to Doncaster Racecourse between May 14 and 19. Bamford suffered a terrible fall while exercising on the gallops in Spain half a dozen years ago, sustaining injuries that left him paralysed from the chest down.

He aims to raise £100,000 during his 110-mile journey.

Andy Bonarius, of event organisers Wildcard Racing Syndicate, said: “All the glitz and glamour of owning a racehorse would not be possible without the hard work of stable staff and the risks they put themselves through every day to let owners live the dream.

“This is what Racing Welfare is all about, helping these hard working individuals who have suffered injuries all for their love of racing.

“I decided I needed to give something back to the stable staff and getting involved with Racing Welfare and timing this with Barney’s Challenge is a fantastic opportunity to raise some money for a good cause.”

For further information, phone Bonarius on 07824 663095.

Aran Wainwright fired a five-under-par 67 to top the northern qualifier for the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship staged at Fulford Golf Club. Wainwright – golf manager at Mid Yorkshire GC – sprinkled six birdies on his card, including four in the last seven holes to win by a stroke from former PGA Cup player Graeme Bell of Eaglescliffe GC. Wainwright now goes through to to the £78,000 final at De Vere Carden Park played over 72 holes from August 7 to 10. Beeston Fields GC’s Lee Clarke and Hartlepool GC’s Alexander Wrigley were tied third at three under.