Sister and brother keep golf in the family
Two golf siblings from Muxton have five reasons to smile after claiming national honours.
Rory McDonald-O'Brien, 11, has enjoyed three big victories in less than a month by winning two British junior titles as well as a qualifying competition run by professional star Lee Westwood.
And his sister Isla, eight, has also made waves by winning a British title of her own before claiming third place in another major domestic tournament.
Rory, who plays out of the Shropshire Golf Club, won the US Kids Golf British Championship at Woodhall Spa in mid-August.
And he followed that by winning a round of the Lee Westwood Golf Tour in Bristol, which earned him a place in the final in October.
That's where he will meet the British star at Close House Golf Club, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
And he secured arguably the finest achievement of them all at the 'home of golf' when he won the 11-12 year-old boys' division of the Wee Wonders British Championships at St Andrews, Scotland.
His delighted mother Alison said: "Rory is in the best form of his life. He was really pleased to win all three, but it was particularly special to win at St Andrews.
"Rory has come second in the Wee Wonders before, losing on countback so to win it by eight shots this time was great.
"He shot an amazing 67 on day one, which was two under par, and then on day two he shot 70, one over, off the white tournament tees.
"He beat a strong international field and finished on a winning score for the tournament of one under for a total score of 137.
"Alistair Goode, the tournament director, said no-one at the age of 11 years old has ever won the 11-12 category before so it was some achievement."
At Woodhall Spa, Rory had shot a four under par total which included a three under gross 69 on day two, to win the title.
His success was all the more impressive as he had trailed the leader by two shots after day one.
Isla, meanwhile, came third in the Wee Wonders girls under-eights division, earning a trophy for her score of 109 which was achieved over 27 holes.
It capped a great weekend for the O'Brien family, and Alison said: "She was really pleased, although she was a little bit disappointed with her last day at St Andrews.
"She already knew Rory had won his age group by then and she wanted to win as well.
"She probably put a bit too much pressure on, but she still did really well and it was a great day for both of them."
That fine showing came just a few weeks after Isla had captured the US Kids Golf British Championship crown in the same age group at Woodhall Spa.
On that occasion, she triumphed over another international field by five shots.
Like Rory, Isla had been behind going into the final day put produced a spectacular finish to clinch victory.
Their achievements have already earned them national acclaim and have also put them in line for global honours again.
Both Rory and Isla have qualified for the US Kids Golf World Championships which will take place at the famous Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, USA, next summer.
The siblings have already graced the world stage, having competed at the same competition in July.
Rory finished 40th out of a field of nearly 200 while Isla almost captured a top-10 finish, coming 11th overall.
Both will be determined to build on their exploits – Rory is targeting a place in the England Under-16s side. Isla is determined to finish in the top five at the US Kids Golf European Championships next spring.
