Amy Boulden Young Sportswoman of the Year Award
After mixing with Joe Calzaghe and Shane Williams and being presented with a top award by Tanni Grey-Thomson, Amy Boulden is even more determined to get to the top in golf.
The rising star of Welsh ladies golf was presented with the Carwyn James Young Sportswoman of the Year Award at the glittering ceremony at Cardiff’s Swalec Stadium this week.
The BBC Wales award covers all sports in Wales, but it is hardly surprising 15-year-old Boulden claimed it after the breakthrough season she has had.
When Wales claimed the Home Internationals ladies title for the second time in 98 years, it was their least experienced player who starred as Boulden was unbeaten in the singles – a record which earned her selection for the Great Britain and Ireland squad.
She knows next season will be tougher still as she combines moving onto the next stage in golf with taking her GCSE’s, but then plans to leave school to concentrate on her sporting development.
“It was great to get the award, quite a surprise as I had no idea until they told me how to get onto the stage a few minutes before,” she said.
“I met Joe Calzaghe and Shane Williams and they wished me good luck for the coming season, so it was really good.”
Llandudno’s Boulden is part of the North Wales production line of top lady golfers, headed by Solheim Cup star Becky Brewerton and with double Curtis Cup player Breanne Loucks about to turn professional.
Golf Union of Wales ladies coach Jeremy Bennett has worked with the likes of Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer, so he knows a thing it two about what it takes to reach the top and was impressed by his youngest team member in the Home Internationals.
“Amy just took everything in her stride. She is in the Great Britain and Ireland squad now and I see her being a Curtis Cup player in two years time even though that would make her one of the youngest ever,” said Bennett.
“She really is someone special – she has the mental toughness to perform under pressure and she does it in such a nice way, smiling all the time. I have never seen anything like it.”
Boulden is working hard to make that prediction come true and would love to follow Brewerton to the top of the professional ranks.
“My sister played golf with Becky so I know her quite well. It is great when someone you know does that well, it is inspiring, while Breanne was my foursomes partner in the Home Internationals – she was fantastic and helped me play well,” said Boulden.
“I know this year is going to be tough because I have got my GCSE’s, though after that I will probably leave school to concentrate on golf.
“I am in the GB and I squad for the Vagliano Trophy but I will need to play well this year to get picked.”
Boulden is the Welsh Girls champion and still has a couple of years left in the junior age group after making her mark at all levels last season.
“It started really early when I was runner-up in the Scottish Under 16’s and that gave me a boost right at the beginning of the season,” she said.
“Then I was third in the Tenby Scratch behind Breanne and Sahra (Hassan) which showed I could compete with the ladies and after that I worked my way into the full ladies squad as well as winning the Welsh Girls title.
“I had worked very hard at my short game last winter and also went to the gym a lot. The Golf Union of Wales have introduced a new fitness regime but I am already doing a lot of that.
“Golf is what I want to do and I would like to turn professional, but I want to win the Welsh Ladies Amateur title and compete for the ladies teams for a few years yet.”