---

Bermuda's top female golfer hopes to continue her winning streak by bringing home gold at the Island Games later this month.

Claiming a second consecutive Bermuda Amateur Stroke Play Championship was a walk in the park for Tariqah Walikraam who strolled to a 12-shot victory on her home course at Tucker's Point this weekend.

And her bulging trophy cabinet, which also includes this year's Match Play Championship and the Ross Blackie Talbot trophy, is just missing one thing - a gold medal.

The 20-year-old, who hopes to play golf in the States next year on a college scholarship, wants to set that straight in Aland, Finland, from June 29.

"I'm going to do my best to bring back some gold. I've had nothing but firsts so far this year and I hope that streak can continue."

Walikraam who will feature alongside Katyna Rabain, Ebonie Burgess and Katrin Burnie at the Games, expects to face stiffer competition.

"It's going to be the best amateurs from different islands around the world, so it's going to be a lot more competition. I'm very happy with my game right now and I hope to play at a high level."

Neither Burgess or Rabain competed at last weekend's tournament and Walikraam accepts she may have been pushed harder if they had been in the field. But she said she just played her own game and did what she had to do, shooting 228 over three days for an 18-over par finish.

"It was pretty windy on the second and third day but I was just trying to hit the ball well and play my own game."

Walikraam who will play at the World Amateur Pepsi Little People's Golf championship, for under-21s, in Illinois this weekend said she needed more exposure to tougher competition to take her game to the next level. "I'm trying to get away and play more tournaments overseas against college-level golfers," added Walikraam, who is a golf-cart coordinator who plays to a three-handicap.

[[In-content Ad]]

---