At Freemen’s, we are passionate about nurturing a lifelong love of physical activity, encouraging students to pursue sport alongside their academic ambitions. Annabel and Emily are shining examples of this ethos in action. While balancing the demands of A-level study, the sisters have travelled the world competing at an elite level in golf, demonstrating exceptional dedication, resilience and passion.

We spoke to Annabel and Emily about their journey in golf, their achievements, and how they balance life as student-athletes.

When did you first start playing golf, and what inspired you to pursue it seriously?

We started playing golf as soon as we could walk. Our dad is a Golf Professional and was the Head Pro at Walton Heath Golf Club, so whenever we had the opportunity, we had a club in our hands. He was definitely a driving force in getting us started, but our enjoyment of the game and the competitive nature between us has pushed us to pursue it at an elite level.

What has been the most memorable moment in your golfing journey so far?

For Annabel, coming tied 5th individually and 4th as a team at the Women’s World Amateur Team Championships in Singapore in September 2025 was the most memorable achievement. Travelling to the other side of the world representing England was an incredible opportunity – something not many people experience at such a young age.

For Emily, her biggest achievement was representing Great Britain and Ireland at the Junior Vagliano Championships in June 2025. This event brings together the top six U16 players from GB&I to compete against the top six from Europe. Being part of such a talented team, alongside her sister Annabel, and competing against the best junior golfers in Europe was a huge honour, as well as an incredibly fun and rewarding experience.

What have you learned about yourself through competing in golf at a high level?

Golf has taught us a lot about hard work and resilience, as well as important values like respect and honesty. It has also given us strong friendships and taught us how to work with coaches and teammates to bring out the best in each other, while still enjoying the process.

What are your goals for the next stage of your sporting journey?

We have both verbally committed to play Division 1 college golf in America after our time at Freemen’s. Annabel will be attending Florida State University, and Emily will be going to North Carolina State University. Both programmes are highly regarded, and this will give us valuable experience while studying for a degree, before hopefully progressing into professional golf.

What advice would you give to younger students who are hoping to follow a similar sporting path?

Enjoyment is the most important thing. You can’t reach your full potential if you’re not passionate about your sport. It’s also important to build a strong support network of friends and people who encourage your love for the game, and to maintain a balance with activities that help you switch off and reset when needed.

What is it like being a woman in a sport like golf, and have you had any role models who inspired you?

For people outside of golf, there can still be a stereotype that it isn’t a ‘girly’ sport. However, within the game, we are surrounded by supportive friends, teammates and role models. English players like Charley Hull and Georgia Hall have always been inspiring to us. More recently, younger players such as Lottie Woad and Mimi Rhodes have achieved incredible success early in their careers – both coming through the England Golf national squads that we are part of.

What is it like competing and training alongside your twin – does it make the experience more motivating or more competitive?

We are definitely competitive with each other, but we also genuinely want each other to succeed. We both believe we wouldn’t be at the level we are today without one another. We constantly push ourselves to improve on each other’s strengths, and when we compete, we know it will always be a great match. Having someone who shares the same goals is hugely motivating and makes the whole journey even more enjoyable.