EMILIE Paltrinieri, a 14-year-old from Milan, Italy, has won the British Girls’ Golf Championship at Royal St David’s Golf Club, held at Harlech.

She beat 16-year-old Isobel Wardle from Prestbury, near Manchester, by 4 and 3 with a burst of brilliant golf in the 18-hole final to lift the trophy.

"This is my biggest-ever victory," said Emilie, who will be 15 on 1 October.

"I won the English Under-14 girls in 2014 and Italian junior titles as well as the US Kids World and European championships but this one tops them all. I feel very excited to have done it."

Some 144 players from across the UK, Europe and beyond took part in the competition which consisted of a 36 hole stroke-play competition with the top 64 qualifying to compete in the knockout.

In windy conditions on the coast, the girls played some superb golf.

In the stroke-play qualifying competition four golfers tied for the lead on 140, 6 under par, with Amanda Linner from Sweden winning with the lowest second round score of 67, 6 under par.

The knock out competition provided a number of close matches with Paltrinieri and Wardle each beating five opponents to reach the final.

After qualifying in 39th position in the stroke-play competition Paltrinieri really raised her game in the knock out stages.

"In Italy we are not used to playing in winds as strong as we have had here this week, but I gradually became accustomed to it and worked out how to play this links course a bit better every day," she commented.

In the final Paltrinieri and Wardle matched each other on the front nine holes, and were all square at the turn.

Paltrinieri then played faultless golf covering the next six holes in six under par, winning four of them and finishing the contest at the 15th hole.

For Isobel Wardle it was a bitter-sweet afternoon - her best ever golfing achievement to reach the British final, but then to run into an opponent in such strong form over the final few holes.

"There was not much I could do against that," said Isobel “but I enjoyed the experience."

The event highlighted the depth of talent in girls’ golf in the UK and Europe.

Gareth Lewis, Club Manager and Head Professional at Royal St David’s commented: “The quality of golf from girls as young as 14 was simply stunning. I am sure we have seen some potential future champions in ladies’ golf at Harlech this week.”