Malton School student Poppy Rudd, 13, who has been picked to play golf for Yorkshire

Poppy Rudd, 13, first got interested in the sport while tagging along with her dad to the driving range and attending junior coaching sessions at Malton and Norton Golf Club.

She has been asked to play for Yorkshire against Nottinghamshire in July.

Her father, Lee Rudd, said: “This is a fantastic reward for all Poppy’s hard work. She has had a lot of support from the ladies’ section at Malton and Norton Golf Club and this has helped her step into the ladies’ section fairly seamlessly.”

“Poppy found it difficult to start with as golf has a lot more male participants than female. This shows within the junior sections too, although young female golfer numbers are gradually increasing which is great to see.”

Poppy, who lives in Great Habton, joined Ganton Golf Club last year.

In 2015, she was selected for the Yorkshire Girls Development Programme and was then picked for the Yorkshire Girls’ Under 14 squad. Poppy also won the Malton and Norton Pride Award for dedication to sport in November 2016.

She is a Yorkshire Girls Ambassador for the national Girls Golf Rocks scheme.

Malton and Norton Golf Club are holding free taster sessions for girls on Saturday, from 2pm to 4pm. For details phone Joel on 01653 693882 or email joelprestongolf@yahoo.co.uk