KENT golfer Anne Wheble is "nervous and excited" ahead of playing in her first professional tournament.

Wheble, from Dartford, is among Europe’s top women golfers preparing for a summer showdown at the Ladies’ English Open at at Chart Hills, near Biddenden, from Friday through to Sunday.

Wheble, the Kent champion, will be part of the home challenge, along with last year’s British Open winner Karen Stupples who comes from Deal.

Chart Hills has also attracted the likes of Solheim Cup stars Laura Davies and Trish Johnson.

With defending champion Maria Hjorth returning, there will be stiff competition in this £112,000 event, with a minimum £20,000 first prize.

Wheble said: "It’s the first time I’ve been invited to a pro tournament so I’m nervous and excited all together.

"I obviously know the course well, but we will be playing it longer as I think we’re playing off the men’s tees."

Of her opponents she said: "I know how strong Karen is because she is the British Open champion and we used to be juniors together in the Kent team. I have never played against Laura Davies and Trish Johnson so am really looking forward to that."

David Walls, general manager at Chart Hills, said: "We are delighted to be staging such a top-class sporting event.

"The Ladies’ English Open is the biggest sporting event in the South-East region and it is appropriate that such a fine course as Chart Hills should host a competition of this magnitude.

"The competition has been given added spice by the fact that we have the defending British Open champion in the field and a strong contingent of home players at a time when women’s European golf fortunes are flourishing."

* TICKETS for Friday are £5, while the final two days are £15. Season tickets cost £25, including parking, and a family season ticket (two adults and two children aged under-16) is £45 inclusive of parking. Separate parking is £5 per day.

The Biddenden-based club will host the tournament for the next five years.