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Golfing sensation Emma Boyd has putted her way to the top again ... winning the 23rd Bahrain Ladies Open at the Awali Golf Club (AGC) for the sixth time.
The annual tournament held over the weekend featured 55 competitors from across the region and Europe.
Boyd, 43, a mother of one, however was in top form completing the 36-hole event with a 14-over-par 166 total. She came out ahead of runner-up Ronelle Du Toit who finished with a 19-over 171 score and third place Sarah Hobday ended the event with a 23-over-par 175 total.
Boyd said: "It was a good weekend. I was very confident this year going into the tournament thanks to my previous wins and I had competed against many of these women before.
"Also my super caddy Peter Rogers was a great support for me. Overall this was an amazing experience and I am thrilled with the win."
The Bahrain-based Filipina housewife started playing golf in 1997 after her husband Ian, a project manager, encouraged her to try the game.
She said: "Ian is a keen golfer and very addicted to the game. He figured if I got into the sport then maybe we could play together and he would have more game time. Little did we know that I would end up loving it so much and start entering competitions internationally!"
Boyd has competed in a number of tournaments such as the BMW Golf Championship in Portugal, the Ladies Open in Oman, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, not to mention annual golfing tours to Thailand which she takes part in with other Awali members.
She said: "When I first started it was a struggle and I had a handicap of 33. Then I started training with professional golf instructor Blyth Reed and noticed a change.
"He told me that I had a natural swing and in five years time I could be a champion. And, after five years I started bagging trophies. I won my first Ladies Open in Bahrain in 2003. I was also the Riffa Golf Club champion for six years and won the Royal Golf Club tournament one year.
"After Blyth left I started training with Chris Kelby of the Royal Golf Club. Now I have a handicap of 7.
"This isn't my career though, I play golf for fun and because I love it. Before Ian would encourage me to play and now he thinks he has created a monster, although joking aside, he has been my greatest support throughout everything."
In 2007, Boyd was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Her game plan was to fight the disease with the same determination she was able to show on the course.
She said: "A month after my treatment in the Philippines I returned to Bahrain and immediately took part in the AGC's Ladies Open. I not only proved my strength and determination to beat this but also broke the ladies course record with par 72 when it is originally par 76.
"Now I am a cancer survivor, completely healthy and simply go for regular check-ups. I support the Think Pink Bahrain campaign every year and am an avid supporter for cancer awareness.
"I hope to motivate others and inspire them to keep pushing forward. Don't ever give up; always fight, because you too can make it.
"I constantly keep fit, live healthily and just take every day as it comes."
What's next for Boyd? She said: "My plan now is to defend the title next year!"
