BUDDING Bury golf star Louisa Brunt has been called up to the England Girls' squad for the European Team Championships.

The 17-year-old Holy Cross College student, from Jericho, will be part of a six-strong team taking part in the tournament in Oslo, Norway.

After Monday's opening ceremony, players from 20 different European countries will take part in a two-day strokeplay competition that will decide the pairings for three days of matchplay competition.

"It's just great (to be selected)," said Brunt, who is a member of Royal Birkdale Golf Club, where she plays off plus one, the lowest handicap of any female member.

"To represent England is a fantastic honour and a great opportunity.

"This tournament has been a pretty big launch pad for some top players in the past.

"Quite a few England players have gone through the ranks to do well for the senior England team.

"I used to look up to these players and now I am following in their footsteps.

"I have seen players like Bronte Law and Sophie Lamb break through after playing for England Girls.

"It's nice to think that some young girls might look up to me now."

Brunt is the 2015 county junior champion and reigning champion for the Northenden Junior Open, the Ringway Junior Open and the Lancashire Millennium Trophy.

More recently, she finished third in the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters, which is open to boys and girls and had 156 players from around the world taking part – one of the biggest strokeplay fields in junior golf.

She also won a silver medal for Holy Cross in the AoC National College Sport Finals, held at Northumbria University over Easter.

The former Bury Catholic Prep and Bury Grammar School pupil is now nearing the end of her first year studying for A levels in PE, psychology and sociology.

Brunt hopes to continue her golfing education by playing in the American collegiate programme, with Texas Tech currently topping the list of universities interested in giving her a scholarship.

"Someone from the college came to watch me play at a tournament at St Andrew's in May, so it is great to know they are interested," she said.

"It has always been my plan to go to college in America rather than trying to get my pro card straight away.

"I have seen a lot of young girls turn pro too soon and end up going off golf, so I don't plan to rush things.

"The main aim is to win everything I can as an amateur, and hopefully make it into the Curtis Cup team, either in two or four years' time."