A HARD-HITTING golfer from Prudhoe matched her fantastic achievement of becoming third longest driving female in the world.

Rebecca McGinley, a professional playing out of Wearside Golf Club, repeated her position as third in the World Long Drive Championships from last year as she headed out to Oklahoma, in America, to take on the biggest hitters in the women’s game.

Breaking on to the scene as British champion in 2015, she threw a cat among the pigeons by taking third place in her debut world championships.

Having qualified again with victory in the American Golf UK Long Drive event, Rebecca cruised through the first five stages of the tournament to finish as third seed for the knockout matchplay quarter-finals.

In tough conditions as she hit into a 15mph headwind, and with a damp landing surface, the quarters produced a wonderful display of power hitting from every competitor with Rebecca edging out Los Angeles-based Troy Mullins with a 297-yard whack.

Victory set up a final four match-up with number two seed Phyllis Meti, of New Zealand.

Taking the first set of six balls, Rebecca, still nursing a finger injury which forced her to withdraw from a Ladies Access Series round in Finland, struggled for consistency.

However, she still managed a good drive of 290 yards, but that wasn’t enough as Phyllis progressed to the final with 294 yards to knock the former Stocksfield junior into third spot.

The New Zealander went onto claim the title as she whalloped her way 310 yard drive off the last ball of the tournament.

Rebecca said: “To lose to the winner is some consolation but I know that I can do better.

“I’ll be heading to my local American Golf next spring to start the qualification process for next year.

“This is my second year finishing third at the worlds, and American Golf and Garmin have been a fantastic support in bringing me out here both years as their champion.

“I’m going to do my best to win my American Golf UK title back in 2017 and will come back to look after some unfinished business.”

The UK qualifying events return across the country in spring, each of the brands’ 109 UK stores hosting one.

The competition is split into men U45, men over 45 and women.