Axminster golfer Sophie Keech continued her outstanding success in 2013 with arguably the biggest win to date last week.

The 17-year-old won her second national title of the year when she scored a five-shot victory in the English girls’ open championship at Oake Manor.

Keech, already English schools’ champion, finished the 72-hole event on level par with rounds of 70, 68, 73 and 73.

Her playing partner Annabel Dimmock (Wentworth) was runner-up on five-over, while Emily Slater (Woodhall Spa) was a further shot back in third place.

Keech said: “Last year, and the one before, were good for me, but winning this makes this year my best-ever – and there’s still more to come.”

She is also the current South-West girls’ champion and was runner-up in the South West ladies’.

She was previously the schools champion in 2011 – and only lost the title on count back in 2012.

The English girls’ championship has long been a target for Sophie, whose friend and county colleague, Hayley Davis, is a past winner: “It’s really nice to follow in her footsteps,” she said.

Leading final scores (par 71): 284 Sophie Keech (Parkstone) 70 68 73 73; 289 Annabel Dimmock (Wentworth) 68 73 74 74; 290 Emily Slater (Woodhall Spa) 72 70 74 74; 292 Ellie Goodall (Selby) 74 70 74 74; Lianna Bailey (Notts Ladies) 72 73 72 75; Bethan Popel (Long Ashton) 71 75 69 77; 294 Dulcie Sverdloff (Garon Park) 72 70 79 73.