Magnificent Mel

UNDERSTANDABLY, this month's issue has concentrated on the recent Solheim Cup match and worldwide professional matters. But as the domestic amateur season winds down, who were the outstanding amateurs of the year, and who is likely to have their name on the Joyce Wethered trophy presented by the Daily Telegraph as the British female "Golfer of the Year"?
I think that everyone who follows women's amateur golf here will agree that the name on the trophy should be that of Melissa Reid. Among her many achievements this year, she:
- Led from start to finish to win the Helen Holm Trophy
- Won the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews after shooting an eight-under-par 68 in the final round
- Represented England in the European Team Championships and European Amateur Championships
- Represented GB and I in the Vagliano Trophy
- Played in two professional events, finishing 11th in one and 9th in the other, the Ladies' English Open
However, undoubtedly Mel's finest achievement of the year was in finishing as the top amateur at this year's Ricoh Women's British Open at St Andrews where she finished in a tie for 16th. Mel, from Chevin, in Derbyshire, had originally thought that she would remain an amateur until after next year's Curtis Cup at St Andrews, but her recent experiences of competing alongside the best women golfers in the world in the Ricoh and doing so well, not to mention her other performances in LET events, have given her the knowledge that she wants to compete as a professional sooner rather than later.
With that in mind, she has entered this year's LET Qualifying school which takes place at the Le Fonti Golf Club in Italy later in the month. Since the change in amateur status rules, she can compete in Q-School as an amateur, thus leaving her options open should the unthinkable happen and she not qualify.
I, along with all her followers, cannot imagine that happening. In every sense, the LET's gain will be the amateur game's loss, especially in 2008 when Mel would have been an automatic selection for captain Mary McKenna and the GBand I Curtis Cup team.

Having first met Mel when she qualified for the Daily Telegraph Junior Championship Final several years ago, I have followed her career and watched her develop as a player with great interest. At St Andrews in the Ricoh this year, Mel was so eager to take the opportunity to observe and learn from the best players in the world that when she saw that there was a gap next to Annika Sorenstam's name on the starting sheet for one of the practice rounds, she quickly put her name down alongside the former world No 1!

That to me says everything about Mel's ambition as a golfer. I can't think of another amateur who would have had the courage to do that. In the championship itself, Mel also got to play alongside former champion Jeong Jang and the current US Women's Open champion, Cristie Kerr. Mel's performance alongside these great players, where she not only held her own but actually tied with Annika and finished ahead of Jang, who missed the cut, and Cristie Kerr who finished tied 33rd, polarised her belief that she is ready to join the professional ranks.

In talking to Mel recently, it is apparent that she is prepared for the hard work that is necessary to achieve her potential, and she already understands how to get the best out of herself. Mel gives a lot of credit for what she's achieved already to her coach Lawrence Farmer, with whom she started working on her swing two years ago, and Dave Alred, for helping her prepare in the best possible way as well as teaching her how to practise efficiently and effectively.

Apart from Mel, other amateurs who have also had excellent years are Wales' Breanne Loucks, Scotland's Krystle Caithness and Carly Booth, and Kerry Smith, Jodi Ewart, Rachel Bell, Liz Bennett and Naomi Edwards from England. With Mary McKenna and the selectors planning get-togethers for the GB and I Elite squad throughout the winter months emphasising course management, and
the mentality needed to have a winning matchplay attitude, it will be interesting to see who emerges from the Elite squad ­ and possibly outside it ­ to claim the much-coveted eight Curtis Cup spots when the team is selected next March.

One thing is for certain­ Mary and her team will greatly miss the presence of one Melissa Reid!