APPLETON golfer Natasha Podmore pulled off a tremendous treble this week to convince her dad that she has what it takes to achieve professional status.

The 16-year-old secured back-to-back victories in the Royal St Davids Open Junior Championships, the Cheshire Junior Championship Cup and the Vale Royal Winter League.

Natasha also equalled a course record of three over par in the Cheshire tournament at Runcorn Golf Club and she has got her handicap down to five despite taking up the sport only four years ago.

Her dad Brendan said: "I'm a very proud father.

"Natasha is on fire at the moment. She has won a number of club competitions in the past but she had never won a major tournament until this week.

"And now that she has put that right I am sure that she can go on to achieve her goal of becoming a professional golfer.

"She's got the talent and the right coaches in Adrian Fryer and Peter Barber so it is only a matter of time as far as I'm concerned.

Natasha, who has taken a year out from her studies to concentrate on her golf, hopes to get her handicap down to scratch by the end of the season.

She is a monster hitter and she proved this week that she can adapt to even the most severe weather conditions.

Natasha had to overcome heavy rain and strong winds to complete her treble triumph and she will be hoping to continue her rich vein of form at the Ladies Gold Cup in London tomorrow, Friday.

Brendan said: "Some of the best golfers in the country will be competing in London. There will be 15 professionals there and Natasha is looking forward to the challenge."

Natasha is a member of High Legh Golf Club near Warrington.

She also plays for Cheshire's A team and she is on the north west training squad for the English Ladies Golf Association.