Young Norfolk golfer Amy Taylor is living the dream in the United States after earning a prized scholarship.

The 17-year-old has left Wymondham College to continue her education at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, where she will be able to focus on the sporting love of her life while also studying for a geography degree.

Amy, who won the Norfolk Amateur Championship in 2015 and was runner-up last year, jetted out to the US earlier than originally planned after a vacancy arose in Texas Tech's six-strong team for the prestigious National Collegiate Championships.

The talented youngster had her first taste of action this week in the UCF Challenge in Orlando, Florida, where she came up against some top young amateurs from America and beyond.

It was a tough challenge for Texas Tech, who finished 11th out of 16 teams, but the Norfolk player finished in fine style with a round of 72 after earlier efforts of 74 and 79.

Amy's team, known as the Red Raiders, will be competing in six more events at top America courses leading up to the Big 12 Championships in Dallas from April 20-22. The aim is to qualify for NCAA Regional Championships at the beginning of May and then the National Championships at Stillwater, Oklahoma from May 18-23.

She will be returning to Norfolk at the end of term and will continue to hone ker skills at Bawburgh over the summer before jetting back across the Atlantic to resume her scholarship, which will take four years to complete.

'It is a great opportunity for Amy. She is very excited about it and so are we,' said proud dad Steve.

'It was a big step to take, especially as she is only 17, but you don't turn down something like this and Wymondham College have been very understanding. Texas Tech are in the top division of collegiate golf so Amy will be able to test herself against some of the very best amateur players in the world.

'Her time there will be divided between golf and her studies, which are also very important of course. It's a long way from home, and Amy is obviously missing her friends and family, but she has settled in well and it really is a great lifestyle for her.'

To follow Amy's progress visit TexasTech.com