YOUNG Katie Thompson is set to step up on to the world stage after her sensational debut performance in the Hampshire Women's Golf Championships last week.

Next stop for the astonishing 11-year-old left-hander from Meon Valley is the World Junior Championships in America next month.

Katie was emerging as a golfing prodigy when she had a hole-in-one at Meon Valley as a nine-year-old.

Now, as a nine handicapper, she put many of the leading ladies of Hampshire golf in the shade by reaching the quarter-finals of the county championships at the Merriott Meon Valley Golf and Country Club.

She made the top half of the 16 qualifiers then beat former county champion Sue Pickles before losing 4 & 3 in the quarter-finals to eventual champion Kerry Smith.

It was significant that Katie gave Smith her closest match of the Championship. She also finished second to Jane Saich for the lowest nett score with Saich recording a nett 69 off her ten handicap, Thompson making a 70 from her gross 79.

Now Katie, whose mother is manageress of the Meon Valley complex, is already emerging as one of the favourites for a national age group title later in the year.

Further up the age scale, Kerry Smith is looking to challenge for the national senior titles this summer after her pledge to stay in the amateur ranks.

The Waterlooville star, who retained her title at Meon Valley, announced afterwards that she has no intention of turning professional because, in her own words, "I'm not good enough."

It's perhaps surprising that an international of five years' standing who aspired to the Curtis Cup team last year won't be following in the footsteps of her former Hampshire team-mate Kirsty Taylor, who won the European Tour's rookie of the year award for 2002.

One of Kerry's first targets will be to lead Hampshire to success in County Week, which is being staged on home ground at Royal Winchester on June 16 when Hertfordshire, Berks, Bucks and Oxon will be Hampshire's opponents.

Hampshire non-playing captain Penny Bodkin has picked a strong squad which includes Natalie Booth and Elizabeth Bennett, who are less than halfway through golfing scholaships in the United States.

The Hampshire squad is: Kerry Smith (Waterlooville), Chris Quinn (South Winchester), Jenny Deeley (La Moye), Tracey Boyes (Meon Valley), Layla Ahmed (Water-looville), Chris Stirling (Meon Valley), Natalie Booth & Elizabeth Bennett (Broken-hurst Manor), Helen Wheeler (Hockley), Annabel Silk (Corhampton) and Fiona Khan (South Winchester).