It seems there is no stopping Richmond wonder girl Inci Mehmet after she defied a bout of food poisoning to secure a rare county golf double at the weekend.
The 15-year-old, a member of Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club, became the youngest-ever winner of the prestigious Surrey Ladies Golf Championship at Hindhead on Sunday – 14 days after lifting the Surrey Junior Girls’ U18 title at Hankley Common.
Mehmet dominated the three-day event, which attracted the county’s top 50 women and girls, to walk off with six of the seven glittering trophies on offer – with the seventh being open only to 19 to 25-year-olds.
“It was amazing and even a bit embarrassing,” said champion Mehmet.
“It took three of us, including my mum, Seshi, and my coach, James Lockrose, to put them all in the car.”
Two days before the big event, Mehmet was confined to bed with a draining sickness bug and spent Thursday in bed before hitting the course on Friday to win the qualifying strokeplay event by three shots.
The Tiffin Girls’ School student went on to beat Roz Adams, Maggie Lowe and Lauren Horsford in the match play event, crowning her weekend by beating Kate Shepherd in Sunday’s final on the third extra hole after their scores were level on the 18th green.
“It was a real struggle on those long walks at Hindhead, and my legs were so weak I felt like Bambi” she said.
“I was absolutely ecstatic, but totally exhausted at the same time.”
The county triumph completed an astonishing month for Mehmet, who partnered fellow Wentworth junior Annabel Dimmock to victory in the London Foursomes, before winning the Surrey U18 title.
She also added to her growing reputation by winning the Burhill Junior Open, where she was one of eight girls and 72 boys in the 36-hole event on the Old Course.
“I am not sure if some of the boys appreciated a girl coming in and winning their trophy,” joked Mehmet.
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