RISING golf star Emily Taylor completed a sensational second ever professional tournament as she celebrated a top 10 finish in the New Zealand Women’s Open.

Chorley’s Taylor had missed the cut in her debut event in Australia but responded with a fine effort over three rounds at the Christchurch course.

And she was understandably delighted with her performance.

She said: “It was a great course, lovely people and a top 10 finish. I can’t wait to come back next year.”

The 18-year-old posted a two under par opening round 74 which had left in her good shape to make her first ever cut – a target of Taylor’s before the tournament began.

Six birdies in her second round helped her to a three under par total of 69 and a place in the field for the final round.

And she made even more impressive strides in round three to secure a ninth place finish.

Her third round started solely with a solitary birdie cancelled out by a bogey at the ninth.

But she picked up on the back nine with birdies at 10, 12, 14 and the last helping her to return home in 33.

Taylor is now returning to East Lancashire ahead of her next tournament - the World Ladies Championship in China from March 7-10.