County champion prepares to join Pro ranks

Two-time Northamptonshire Ladies Amateur champion Thalia Martin (Peterborough Milton) is getting herself ready to turn Professional ahead of the 2021 season.

Martin, who added the 2020 County title to the 2016 crown after shooting a course record 65 at Collingtree Park last month, is aiming to compete in Ladies European Tour Qualifying School, which normally takes place towards the start of the year.

She said: “At the moment, I’m trying to prep myself for the three months before the 2021 season starts. So I’m working with the people at Peterborough Milton to get me ready for the Professional season.

“It’s just a question of when I’m going to change my status from Amateur to Professional.

“I’m looking to go to Q School, if there is one, and try to get the highest possible category, and join the LET Access Series, and hopefully progress at those tour events around Europe, and see where that takes me.”

The 23-year-old has endured a reduced playing schedule this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but she has still enjoyed the best season of her Amateur career.

After back-to-back wins at University, she made the knockout stages of the Women’s English Amateur and British Women’s Amateur Championships, when she was clubhouse leader after the first round, only for it be voided due to high winds.

Martin, whose handicap from scratch to plus two during this period, said: “COVID-19 affected my whole schedule for 2020. We had major plans for the BUCS events – I was second in the Order of Merit, so I was going for the win.

“I was looking to gain more ranking points by playing in the big Amateur competitions and hopefully climb up the rankings.

“We were fortunate that we managed to play some in August – three events in the space of a few weeks – but three was nowhere as many as we had planned, so I was a bit distraught at that.

“But I still had a good season, which made me realise that I have the capabilities to compete.

“I’m now looking for sponsors, contacts and guidance to put me in the right place to be at the moment, especially with the circumstances that are going on. I need a team around me – that’s the main target.”