Liz Bennett is England's top golfer 2008

Hampshire’s Liz Bennett has won the English Women’s Golf Association order of merit for 2008 and is England’s top woman golfer of the year.

Liz, an England international from Brokenhurst Manor, set herself four goals at the start of the season and, with her victory in the order of merit, she has achieved them all. The others were to play in the Curtis Cup, in the World Team Championship and the Ricoh British Women’s Open.

“It’s been good,” she said. “The Curtis Cup was definitely a highlight. The atmosphere was great and I played well, although I didn’t get the results I wanted.

“Ending the year in Australia at the World Team Championships was great too, playing with people from all those different countries.  

“I’m pleased with my year and winning the order of merit finishes it off very nicely,” said Liz, who is now hoping to bow out of amateur golf.

In January the 26-year-old will head for the Ladies’ European Tour qualifying school where she aims to win her player’s card. “I feel the time is right to move on. I have done what I wanted to do in amateur golf and I feel I’m ready to compete with the professionals.

“I’ve really enjoyed my amateur career. I had four fantastic years at university in America and it was great to come back and play for England and for GB&I. But now it’s time to move on.”

Order of merit top ten: 1 Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 2 Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) 3 Naomi Edwards (Ganton) 4 Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) 5 Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) 6 Jodi Ewart (Catterick) 7 Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) 8 Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 9 Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire) 10 Rachel Connor (Manchester)

Full details: englishwomensgolf.org