WALES might have their own version of British golfing great Laura Davies in the future with Nantyglo youngster Adelaide Francis going from strength to strength in 2014.

The nine-year old has been playing since she first picked up a club aged four, under the tuition of Alice Springs Golf Club pro James Morgan.

First called up to play for Great Britain last year, Addie, as she is affectionately known, has had an even better year this time around with a string of accolades to her name.

She won the British Callaway Qualifier for girls aged 9-10 in April at Aldwickbury Park and was selected for the GB team to go and play an event in America.

She also competed at the European Golf Championships in Scotland in the spring and secured a highly-credible position of 13th.

However, Addie has also proved she can win big outside of her comfort zone, having won the World Odyssey Putting Championships at the world famous Torrey Pines course, receiving a free Odyssey putter as a prize. Addie also came 62nd in a world three-day event in the US despite being one of the youngest players in the field and competing over four gruelling 18-hole rounds.

However, the successes don’t stop there with Addie training throughout the season at the Lee Westwood golf school, winning a place at the national final, Addie the only female in her age category to enjoy the honour, meeting Westwood in the process as he presented her the prize for winning a nine-hole competition, playing against boys in her age category.

In September Addie was invited by the Welsh Golf Union to an assessment day at the Celtic Manor and won a place in the nursery squad, where she will be the youngest female in the squad under the watchful eye of Neil Matthews and John McDonald, her coach at the Celtic Manor.

Addie is a member of Monmouthshire Golf Club and under junior organiser Irene Dodd is a regular winner of junior competitions and medals.

Addie also won the Welsh mini masters event in the October half term on the Montgomery Course at the Celtic Manor to round out a super year.

As well as her successes on the golf course, Addie plays football for Mardy Tigers and participates in hockey with the Gwent Girls U11 side.

Addie’s opportunities to continue to shine with golf, sport and other education will now continue at Christ College, Brecon.