Amazing Aimee stuns champion

L'ANCRESSE golf links has never seen anything like it.

Aimee Ponte, just 12 years old when she entered her maiden island women's matchplay championship, is through to tomorrow's final after a staggering victory over Jan Chamberlain, the defending champion.

It was stuff of childhood dreams and the normally reticent talker, Bobby Eggo, her caddie, admitted it had been thrilling.

'We didn't expect to win yesterday to be honest. Today was just a dream,' said the former Walker Cup star who you sensed was excited as the gallery who left the course shaking their heads with amazement.

'A star is born,' said one, and he just may well be right.

This was exceptional sport and on a cold, wet and windy night too.

Chamberlain, hot favourite to go on to win her third island title by the weekend, must have felt inwardly stunned but maintained a brilliant, sporting smile as she was met with a wave of condolences.

And, like a true champion, having given the youngster the warmest of congratulatory hugs, she made no excuses and spoke only glowingly of an opponent who most fancied was all but buried when she lost the 11th to go three down.