YOUNG golfing superstar Olivia Pearson is hoping to be given the opportunity to turn professional by Birmingham University, having applied to study a Golf Management course there in September.

The 18-year-old from Bingley has already won a hatful of junior titles and looks to be well on the way to achieving her dreams.

Her successes so far include securing the Junior Captain’s Trophy at her club, Cookridge Hall in Leeds, where she won a 36-hole competition.

She has also played an under par round from an 11 handicap and successfully reduced it to seven. In addition, Pearson has played for Yorkshire Girls where she triumphed against Cheshire and competed against other regions.

The conscientious sixth-former has even set up her own lunchtime school club at Hipperholme Grammar School, teaching junior school pupils twice a week at the Bramley Lane site in Halifax.

Pearson, who discovered her love of golf by visiting the local driving range with her dad, is quite clear about who her role model is.

She enthused: “I admire English professional golfer Charley Hull because she’s played golf since she was very young and has had success in both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour.

"She also supports the ‘This Girl Golfs’ campaign which I believe is really important as it gets more girls into golf as there’s a lack of people coming into the sport.”

Pearson has thanked Hipperholme Grammar School for supporting her in her sporting endeavours, saying: "They have allowed me to take part in competitions, particularly the England Schools competition every year.

"I also really enjoy running my own golf club every Thursday and Friday at the school which they have helped me to establish.”

Matt Crouchman, Head of PE at Hipperholme Grammar School, expressed his pride in the young prodigy, saying: “Olivia has a tremendous amount of passion for golf and she has worked tirelessly to refine her technical ability in the sport.

"She endeavours to pursue her dream of studying golf management at Birmingham University and we hope that this will open more doors for her in the coming future."