At seven o'clock yesterday morning Felicity Johnson reported for work in the professional's shop at Harborne GC, she served such members who were abroad at that time of the day and was moved, she confessed, to the occasional blush.

Small wonder. The Harborne members were proud of this young lady and couldn't wait to say so. The day before she had won the English Ladies' Amateur Championship at Burnham & Berrow. At the tender age of 18 years she had beaten the more experienced Sophie Walker, of Kenwick Park, at the second extra hole of a tense final.

"I'm quite chuffed with myself," she admitted. Quite chuffed?

"That was a fantastic performance," said her Warwickshire county captain, Pat Hale, who had travelled to Somerset to support her.

Felicity had been two up at half way and when she birdied the 14th she was a clear favourite. Then she lost three holes in a row.

Burnham's 15th is regarded as the toughest hole on the course and, having missed the green, she couldn't get up and down. She then missed a 3ft putt to lose the 16th and at the 17th her battling opponent pulled out a timely birdie.

All square playing the 18th, which both girls parred. Neither could par the 19th but at the 20th Felicity launched a drive that she will probably remember for the rest of her days.

"A great drive," she said. "A magnificent drive," said Pat Hale.

It travelled 320 yards. Johnson, with 60 yards to go to the pin, hit her second to 10ft and when Walker, on the front edge in three, missed a bogey putt, the match was conceded.

It was then that Johnson, after seven rounds of golf, including the qualifiers, said: "I was mentally and physically tired."

She then drove home to Birmingham, had a quiet night and rose with the larks for work.

She is not unused to victory. At the age of 16 she won the Warwickshire Ladies' Championship having been English Under-15 champion. Last year, she won the Bridget Jackson Bowl at Handsworth.

"A lot of doors are opening," said this gifted, Birmingham-born youngster. She is in the England team for the European Ladies' Championship in Sweden in July, she's looking forward to the Home Internationals and it is very much in her thoughts that there's a Curtis Cup next year.

And, of course, there's County Week to which she and her Warwickshire teammates will be directing their undivided attention.

"Warwickshire have done so much for me," she said. "Everyone has been so helpful."

Felicity found golf very early in life. She was five years of age when her grandfather took her to Harborne Church Farm and she began taking lessons from Paul Johnson, one-time Warwickshire amateur. And she's still taking lessons from him.

Eventually, if she continues to progress at her current rate, Johnson will consider turning professional. But she's in no hurry; there's so much to play for in the amateur game. And there's the Warwickshire cause to support.

"We are all delighted for her," Hale said. "We always knew that she had the ability. Now she's proved a lot of things to herself."