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KIRAN MATHARU
- 17-year-old golf sensation and Ladies Amateur Champion is leading the way for the next generation of young female golfers - Even at Kiran's tender age, her whole golfing career has been a successful one but in 2006 alone she has cleaned up with award upon award. In February this year, Kiran was named Junior Female Sports Personality of the Year at the Sony Sports Personality of the Year Awards and has recently snatched the title of 2006 English Ladies Close Amateur Champion, with a 5/4 win at West Lancashire Golf Club.

Kiran has an amazing golf handicap of + 3.4 which is the lowest female classification in Great Britain, putting her at number one on the UK golfing circuit and holds a rank of number two in the world, in the under 19's category. 2005 saw her collecting numerous honours again, including the European Girls Winner 2005 as well as holding onto The Nick Faldo National Series Champion, which she has kept for two years running.

Kiran also has the required golfing skills to be a member of Team Faldo, set up in 2002 by Nick Faldo to nurture the next generation of golfing champions for Europe, which Kiran truly is.

With all this under her cap, Kiran remains a typical teenager, shy, pretty and awkward, except to when it comes to holding a golf club. She trains with her coach six times a week and jogs every morning to maintain her stamina.

She follows in her father's ambitious sporting footsteps, Amarjit Matharu, who turned to cricket after finding it a struggle to be accepted into the golfing fraternity due to the colour of the skin.

But this by no means put him off introducing his daughter to the sport. Kiran's introduction to golf at 11 years old, impressed Neil Harvey, a local professional, so much with her natural swing, that he insisted she take serious lessons and could play for Yorkshire within six months.

Her first lessons were with Mark Pinkett before progressing even further with Peter Tupling. By 14 Kiran was playing off scratch. Her swing is a thing of artistic beauty, with a relaxed yet powerful drive. Amarjit is also a member of the Cookridge Hall Golf Club and can often be seen with Kiran in the practice nets. Her father has constantly remained the driving force behind 'Team Matharu' and will ensure she turns professional.

Kiran is currently training hard for the Great Britain & Ireland Curtis Cup after recently being named one of the eight members to play the US at the end of July. Kiran is the youngest member, at 17, to play for not only the Great Britain and Ireland team but also in the US for this tournament.

Watch this space - Kiran Matharu is hot on the heels of golfing stardom and celebritiville. Her main goal is to be one of the best players in the World and there is no doubt she will achieve this.

Kiran Matharu's credentials:

Golf Club Cookridge Hall

Country England

Date of Birth 27th February 1989

Residence Chapel Allerton, Leeds

Honours 2006 GB&I Curtis Cup squad member

2006 Faldo Series International Trophy girls' runner-up

2005 Faldo Series girls champion

2005 Welsh Ladies Stroke-play Championship runner-up

2004 Faldo Series girls champion

on 2006-07-10