Burford's Abi Laker booked herself a trip to China by winning the girls’ under 16 title in the Faldo Series Europe grand final.

The 16-year-old took the honours at the Lough Erne Resort, Northern Ireland after pushing the under 21 champion, Yi-Chen Liu (Chinese Taipei) all the way for the first two rounds.

Laker, who trains with the English Women’s Golf Association’s (EWGA) Super Birdies South Squad, will now play in the 2011 Faldo Series Asia grand final next March at Mission Hills, China.

Rounds of 82, 70 and 82 gave her a one-shot victory over Chloe Ryan (Ireland) in the under 16 category.

Oxfordshire champion and Welsh international Katherine O’Connor was joint third in the under 21 event after rounds of 78, 80 and 79.

Nick Faldo, who set up the series for aspiring junior players attended the final alongside former winner and world No 9 Rory McIlroy, who tees off in the Ryder Cup tomorrow.

  • OXFORDSHIRE 2nd retained the ladies’ Midlands South League after beating Northamptonshire in their final match.

The 5-4 victory at Overstone saw Oxon field three juniors in Abi Laker (Burford), Cara Gainer (Frilford) and Sophie Stone (Studley Wood).

Oxon had to win five of the afternoon singles to claim victory are did so through Laker (2 holes), Kate Evans (Frilford, 6&5), Sarah Arnold (Henley, 3&1), Karen Pollard (Henley, 2 holes) and Stone (3&2).