Emma Weeks is still haunted by the memory of letting the English Strokeplay title slip from her grasp.

Two years ago, on home ground at Stoneham, she had a five-shot lead going into the final round of the 72-hole event before, she says, the nerves kicked in and she went on to lose out in a sudden-death play-off.

"I'll never forget it," said Emma, "but I think I'm stronger for it. It taught me to try and relax and be more positive and to enjoy being in a winning position rather than getting anxious about it."

The 24-year-old Hockley player is now on the threshold of a major change in her golfing career as she contemplates joining the very small band of women who have become professionals within the Hampshire PGA.

Right now, Sara Farthing at Chilworth and Janice Arnold at Blacknest are flying the flag for the ladies while Emma's former Hampshire junior team-mate Katie Huffam is teaching at Hamptworth just across the Wiltshire border.

Emma is awaiting the green light from the PGA to start applying for trainee positions in Hampshire.

Until she gets a job, and it may not be until later in the year, she will retain her amateur status which will please Hampshire.

With Kirsty Taylor, who is now an established member of the European Ladies Tour, Emma formed the youthful part of a successful county women's team.

Like Kirsty, she won the county title before she was 21 and now, having seen Taylor turn professional, qualify for the European Ladies Tour and take the Rookie of the Year last year, Emma believes she can go on and emulate her.

"Seeing what Kirsty has done has made me more determined and more confident that I can go on and get my card, too," says Emma.

At European Tour School in Grenoble last autumn Emma was just two shots away from making the cut into the final stages.

But for the luck of the draw - or, in her case, the bad luck of the draw - she might have now been looking forward to rubbing shoulders again with Kirsty Taylor.

Emma explained: "I had to play the back nine first in Grenoble which means I had to start on a par three and play two more short holes before the turn. Par threes are not ideal when you are just starting out because there are fewer margins for error and you're not properly into your rhythm."

Sure enough, she dropped a few shots on her way to the turn and finished up with a costly opening round of 79. After that it got much better with scores of 71 and 75 but the damage had been done.

It summed up her year. Emma was runner-up to Kerry Smith in the Hampshire Championship, lost to Becky Prout in the final of the South East Championship, finished fourth in the Greek Championship and reached the fourth round of the English Matchplay event.

But after a season of might-have-beens, she did enjoy a bright sunshine moment in Carolina when she helped Hockley win the Mail on Sunday National Team title for the third time.

If Emma can secure a trainee's slot at one of the Hampshire clubs, she'll compete against the men on the PGA circuit.

If not, she'll continue on the amateur circuit and playing the national majors, because she needs to stay at the sharp end of the game so she's ready for the next Tour School in November when she is determined there will be no slip-ups.