A GOLFER from Heswall has been given a £10,000 sponsorship from a local financial planning company ahead of her joining the Ladies European Tour.
Former England Amateur International Rachael Goodall has already made a solid start with top 30 finishes in her first two events which have earned her over 15,000 euros.
Rachael, 31, who received the financial backing of Wrexham-based Hadlow Edwards, is the touring professional from Heswall Golf Club.
She has been sharpening her game with partner and club assistant professional Jason Dransfield ahead of the new season.
Rachael told the Globe: “It means a lot to get this help from Hadlow Edwards.
“It takes a lot of the pressure off and they’re a great company to be associated with and they have a real interest in the sport as well.
“Last year on the Challenge Tour I had to pretty much play well at every event to make sure I could afford to tee it up again the following week.
“This year the competition is even more fierce and there’s more travelling so it costs £1500 to £2,000 to play a tournament.”
Rachael’s golf began at just four years old when she persuaded her dad to let her have a go at Wirral Golf Club and in two years, she was on the Cheshire team as she began a rise up the amateur game.
She recalls that at six she couldn’t see out of the bunkers and had to be lifted up by a golf pro who walking round with her but by 17 she was Cheshire Ladies Champion and playing for the England amateur team.
She turned professional in 2013 and has been playing in the Ladies European Tour Access Series since 2017 before winning her European Tour Card by finishing fourth in the Order of Merit last year.
Hadlow Edwards Director James Parry, a seven-handicap golfer himself, said the firm had been keen to support a golfer from the region and his colleague, Dan Boden, a PA with the firm, had played with Jason who had suggested Rachael.
James said: “Women’s sport is booming with the Women’s Premier League in football and women’s golf is getting more and more exposure and rightly so because the standard is fantastic.
“That means it’s tough to reach the top but we’re delighted to be able to support her because she’s local and we believe she has a real talent and desire to succeed.
“Hopefully that support will just take a bit of the pressure off and help her make a real impact so we will be seeing her on our TV screens this year.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here