The Gareth Bale Champion Is . . . Alicia Kelly

By Hamish Stuart

Abergavenny’s Alicia Kelly became the first girl to win the Gareth Bale Championship at Celtic Manor, dominating the field to earn a seven-shot victory.

Beating the boys in such a prestigious competition is a boost for girl’s golf with less than a year to go before hosting the biggest female sporting event ever held in Wales when the AIG Women’s Open takes place in Royal Porthcawl next summer.

Superstar footballer Bale was on hand to watch the Championship and handed out the prizes, impressed at the young talent on display among the girls and boys in the mixed Under 18’s event.

The popularity gained by the Wales Golf event, which is in its third year, was shown by the remarkable number of entries, with just under 100 able to play with a lengthy waiting list on top.

Fantastic weekend of golf and other games for the Gareth Bale Championship and Festival of Sport.
Congratulations to Ryan Williams on winning the junior golf tournament after battling the elements to produce a superb final round of 72 on the Roman Road Course. pic.twitter.com/6hfNnLbz1E

— Celtic Manor Resort (@TheCelticManor) September 17, 2023