County golf star Grace Crawford is getting ready to head to America to compete in the US Kids World Golf Championship at the end of July.

Crawford, from North Berwick, sealed her place in the showpiece event at Pinehurst in North Carolina with an eighth-placed finish in the US Kids European Championships earlier this month.

Crawford, although aged seven, competed in the category for eight-year-olds.

Not content with that impressive performance, she also won a regional qualifying event to put her through to the finals day of the ‘Wee Wonders’ event at St. Andrews in August.

Rick Valentine, director of golf at Loretto School in Musselburgh, where Crawford is a pupil, was delighted with her achievements.

He said: “It is wonderful for Loretto golf to have another player competing on the world stage, and I am sure Grace will have a fantastic time and the experience will stand her in great stead for the future. We wish here all the very best.” In the qualifiers at Gullane, more than 500 youngsters from 40 different countries – including Egypt, Switzerland and South Africa – competed in several age groups.

Crawford plays in the World Championships from July 30 to August 3.