CHORLEY teenager Emily Taylor has been hailed an ‘exceptional talent’ after winning the English U18 Girls’ Championship in astonishing style last night.

The 17-year-old former St Michaels High School student produced one of the rounds of her life to take the title by four shots at Sandiway in Cheshire.

Starting the final 36 holes in third position, Taylor climbed to the top of the leaderboard after a final round 66, with an incredible eight birdies along the way.

Taylor is one of Lancashire and England’s top young golfers and, in May this year, she claimed the Irish women’s strokeplay title in Dublin.

But yesterday’s victory is her biggest career win to date, and among those savouring her success was Lancashire Ladies captain Val Moran.

“It was absolutely brilliant from Emily,” said Moran. “She dropped a shot early on in her last round but after that she was majestic, especially on the back nine.

“I think I lost count on how many birdies she had.

“She holed a monster putt on the par three 18th and I think that summed up her round. It was fantastic.”

Moran added: “Emily is an exceptional talent and a lovely girl off the course.

“She has figured a lot for England and I’m sure there’s a lot more to come from her.”

Taylor, who is a member at Hillside Golf Club, was just one of two golfers to break par over 72 holes at a difficult Sandiway course, along with runner-up Meghan Maclaren of Welling-borough.

Heading into the final round of the competition, she was in third position and two shots off the lead, but a devastating flurry of birdies, including four in her last six holes, sent her to the top.

Pleasington’s Hollie Vizard concluded her campaign with rounds of 75 and 74, finishing 14 over on the leaderboard.

Her club-mate Brogan Townend saw her efforts tails away with final rounds of 80 and 81 as she finished on 27 over for the competition.

Elizabeth Stebbings of Wilpshire ended on 24 over par after final cards of 76 and 78.