Kirin's on her way

That she is not Swedish, French or from any of the other nations on the continent who encourage women's golf, but - glory be - British, makes Sunday a date for the diary.

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So make a note of Kiran Matharu, who could potentially do great things for the neglected women's game in this country, not to mention golf among the Asian community in Britain.

Matharu, a Sikh who hails from Leeds, was introduced to the game by her father at the age of 11.

Within a year she was down to a 12 handicap and last year played for Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup.

Inevitably, the stories about her being Britain's answer to Michelle Wie started to appear, particularly after a practice round with the American at last year's British Open.

Matharu was far from fazed. She pronounced: "Michelle is a nice girl and a great talent but after playing with her I don't think she is unbeatable."

After turning pro, Matharu finished third at the European women's qualifying school last November and became the youngest to compete on the pro circuit.

So to her third event, the Northern Ireland Open, which she led going into Sunday's final round.

Nine players were gathered within two shots of her. Could she hold on? Alas, no.

But it was only at the death that inexperience told.

Two bogeys at the closing holes saw a flood of players surge past and she had to settle for a tie for 13th place behind English winner Lisa Hall.

Hall won a mammoth, sudden death play-off at the eighth extra hole against France's Gwladys Nocera.

Matharu will learn from the experience and her goals are lofty.

She said: "I want to win at least once this year, and become the world's best woman player by the age of 25."

For too long, British golf has been awaiting a young figurehead to join all those American and European glamourpusses who have given the women's game a fashionable edge.

The photogenic Miss Matharu appears to tick all the boxes.