During the year she was also runner-up in the English mid-amateur, third in the English strokeplay, third in the Sherry Cup in Spain and she became the first player to win the south-east championship four times. “This has definitely been my best-ever year and I think my all-round game has improved,” added Kerry, an England international and former Curtis Cup player. “Winning the Order of Merit reflects on everything I have done throughout the year.”

Kerry, a committed amateur who plays off plus-two, is a member of ELGA’s elite performance squad and of the LGU’s Great Britain and Ireland training squad. She plans a busy winter preparing for next season when her sights are set on another big title. Runner-up in the Order of Merit was last year’s winner, Emma Duggleby of Malton & Norton, Yorkshire. Shelley McKevitt (Reading, Berks) was third. Both Emma and Shelley played in the 2004 Curtis Cup team.

Natalie Booth to play on Ladies European Tour

Hampshire’s Natalie Booth is leaving amateur ranks to follow her dream of playing on the Ladies European Tour. The 21-year-old from New Milton is grabbing the chance she won at the Tour’s qualifying school at Riva dei Tessali in Southern Italy.

Natalie finished 42nd to earn a conditional card for the 2005 season and she said: “I’ve definitely decided to take it.”

She expects to get starts in at least 10 tournaments and she added: “I’ve always wanted to be a professional and get my Tour card – that’s every golfer’s dream.”

However, Natalie waited until late summer before deciding to go to Tour school. She had been at university in the USA and returned home in January, planning to spend a couple of years on the amateur circuit.

After a good season, which took her to 19th on the ELGA order of merit, she was encouraged to try for her card by her brother, Lee, a golf professional, and a friend on the Challenge Tour.

“I worked really hard preparing for it – and it was fun, it was just fantastic and I really enjoyed it,” said Natalie, a member of Highcliffe Castle Golf Club.

She added: “I didn’t know what to expect. I went into it with an open mind and went for the experience more than anything, and to see what level I was at. I didn’t put any pressure on myself but I knew I had been playing well all year, that I had worked hard and that I had a good enough game to shoot good scores on any course.”

Before going to America Natalie was a member of ELGA’s Elite Under 21 squad and represented England in the French U21 championship. She won the Hampshire championship when she was 18 and was the 2003 south-east champion.

English Curtis Cup player Shelley McKevitt has called an end to her top amateur career and has turned professional.

"I feel I’m ready," said the 25-year-old, who will represent the Chart Hills club in Kent.

"When I came back from university in the States I gave myself two years to see if I was good enough – and I feel I am," said Shelley, a member at Reading Golf Club.

Within her time limit she earned her place in this year’s Curtis Cup team; she won the 2003 British strokeplay championship and was runner-up this year; she became the 2003 New Zealand Open champion; she was runner-up in this year’s English strokeplay championship. She tested herself against the professionals - and tied 15th in the English Open, on seven under par.

Shelley is excited about her future, although she was disappointed not to win a card for either the LPGA Tour in America, where a back injury hampered her chances; or at the Ladies European Tour qualifying school where, she says: "I just didn’t play well."

But she’s no stranger to overcoming setbacks, having suffered a car accident in the USA and contracting glandular fever, from which she is now fully recovered. "In some ways it’s good that I haven’t got my card because it will make me work harder. I never seem to get things easily so why should it be different at professional level?"

She plans to spend a month in New Zealand in January, working on her game in warm weather and taking in a couple of events in Australia. She hopes to get a number of sponsors’ invitations to play in LET tournaments. Shelley is also exploring the possibility of playing in South Africa and Sweden. Her ultimate goal is to play in the USA and she will return to the LPGA school next year.

England international Faye Sanderson (Heworth) has been promoted into the LGU’s 12-strong GB&I training squad.

Two more England players have been named as reserves: England international Naomi Edwards (Ganton) and England’s champion girl golfer Felicity Johnson (Harborne).

Faye, 20, was originally one of the squad reserves and is one of three players moved up to replace Shelley McKevitt, Anna Highgate and Lynn Kenny, who have all turned professional. The other newcomers are Tricia Mangan (Ireland) and Heather Macrae (Scotland).

The first of the squad’s training sessions takes place this weekend at Wentworth where captain Ada O’Sullivan will start preparing for a successful defence of the Vagliano Trophy at Chantilly in July.

The full squad is: Claire Coughlan (Cork), Tara Delaney (Carlow), Emma Duggleby (Malton & Norton), Stephanie Evans (Vale of Llangollen), Sarah Jones (Pennard), Anne Laing (Vale of Leven), Heather Macrae (Dunblane) Tricia Mangan (Ennis), Clare Queen (Drumpellier), Faye Sanderson

Heworth (Durham), Kerry Smith (Waterlooville), Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park).

The reserves are: Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Breanne Loucks (Wrexham), Naomi Edwards (Ganton) Felicity Johnson (Harborne).