DORSET star Georgia Hall will realise a childhood ambition when she turns professional on her 18th birthday in April.

Hall, who got the golfing bug when she was seven, has decided to test herself in the big time after taking the amateur ranks by storm.

A member at Remedy Oak and Parkstone, Hall shot to prominence this year when she played in her first major and was crowned British Amateur champion.

Currently 10th in the world rankings and third in Europe, she also shared the silver medal after finishing tied as leading amateur at the Ricoh Women's British Open at St Andrews.

Bournemouth-born Hall started out at a children's golf clinic at Canford Magna and was playing to a single-figure handicap by the time she was 10.

Schooled at Elmrise Primary and Oakmead, she gave up studying for a BTEC course in sports science last year to focus her attentions on making the grade.

Hall will relinquish her amateur status when she turns 18 in five months and will start her professional career by competing predominantly on the Access Series Tour.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo, Hall said: “I am really looking forward to it. It is what I have been practising for since I was seven.

“It will be like starting out again and learning how professionals work and what their regular routines involve like all the travelling.

“I have decided to turn pro because I don't want to play another year on the amateur circuit. I will go from being high in the amateur rankings to a big number in the pro game and I know it is a big step. I will be like a little fish in a pool of top players.”

Hall will rely on sponsors' invitations to the main tournaments next season and must finish in the top five on the Access order of merit to win a European Tour card for the following year.

She will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of her friend and former England team-mate Charley Hull who banked around 100,000 euro in her debut season and helped Europe win their first Solheim Cup on American soil while becoming the prestigious event's youngest participant, aged 17.

Hall added: “My short-term aim is to get my full tour card. I want to get as many top-10 finishes as possible. Hopefully, I will get a lot of invites and, if I don't get my card, I will go to tour school next December. I also want to make the Solheim Cup team for 2017.”

Hall will be unable to defend her British Amateur title and will also surrender exemption to next year's British Open at Royal Birkdale, earned after winning the inaugural LGU order of merit.

The teenager is looking for sponsors to help during her first year and can be contacted on georgiahallgolf@yahoo.com