After becoming a part of the Suffolk golfing set-up, Imogen Potter has continued to take some impressive strides forward.

The 10-year-old, who is a member of the golf clubs at Diss and Stonham Barns, is currently a fixture in the county’s girls’ second squad – a move that grandad Stephen believes has been highly beneficial to her game.

“The support she has received from Suffolk has been so good,” said Stephen, who is Imogen’s caddy.

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“She joined them part way through last year and has gone on to win plenty of open competitions and go very close in others.

“Being involved with older girls has really helped to bring her game on. Alice Barlow, who coaches along with her father, is expecting big things for Imogen in the future and they think she will come on really strong.

“Some of the improvements have been amazing. Her swing is better and that has been helped by a lot of the training she has been doing at Stonham Barns over the winter.

“She is only 10 so you never know what is going to happen in the future. One day she might just decide that she wants to stop playing golf, but right now she is loving being part of the Suffolk squad and that is showing in her game.”

While the Mellis Primary School pupil has a number of local competitions on the horizon, she is also preparing for the Champion of Champions event at Wicklow Golf Club, in Ireland, on April 15-16.

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Potter was handed a special exemption to take part in the tournament after the organisers were impressed with her recent performances and results.

It will pit the youngster against some of the best players in her age group from across the globe, as well as placing the demands of playing 18 holes on back-to-back days.

Stephen added: “It is one of the biggest competitions that you can play in at her age and the fact she has been invited shows how well she has done.

“It is going to be very hard to make an impact because the girls from the big golfing countries like America are able to train outdoors every day.

“When she played a Russian girl last year, she had her own photographer and all of her kit and clubs were sponsored – that is the level she is up against.

“But it will still be an amazing experience and one that she will learn a lot from.

“There are bound to be a few nerves but she is very excited as well.”