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We're raring to go!

13/11/2008

ONE lucky Greater Manchester youngster will hit the jackpot on Saturday as the search for a young golfing star of the future reaches its conclusion at Playgolf Manchester near the Trafford Centre.

From the initial huge response from nearly 600 boys and girls aged between six and 14, ‘Talent Hunt’ judges reduced them down to 66 for an intensive four-week ‘boot camp’ with the professionals at Playgolf.

After mentoring and coaching it was then the unenviable task of the four pros to decide who would go through to the X-Factor-type grand final with the aim of winning a coveted golfing scholarship.

In the end they decided that 13 youngsters would go through, with the criteria of potential, ability to take on board and act on advice in coaching sessions being the decisive factors.

Three girls and ten boys have made it through to face the judging panel and they will demonstrate what they’ve learned and show how they have improved during weeks of expert tuition.

The eventual winner will receive a year’s free golf lessons, a new set of golf clubs and golf clothing, plus a year’s free membership at a local club, and there will be prizes for some of the other finalists

Craig Whitfield, from PlayGolf, said: "The response to the hunt for an outstanding young golfer was staggering. The talent on view was immense and made it very difficult for the judges to make their decisions, but we hope that we have achieved the main aim of getting more young people into golf and carrying on to use their skills to the maximum in the future.

"I would like to thank the staff at Playgolf, Sport4Life, MENWN, WGTB Golf, American Golf, Trolley Dolly, Kelloggs and www.Cheshire-golf.co.uk for their support and help in staging the event and providing prizes."

The final will take place this Saturday between 11am and 1pm, and the judges will be Whitfield, Setanta Sports presenter Charlotte Jackson, Peter McEvoy OBE, the chairman of selectors for GB and Ireland junior golf, and Andy Hiseman.

McEvoy said: "The ‘Talent Hunt’ has been the most thrilling demonstration of junior golf that I have seen in over 40 years in the game."

The lucky 13, with ages, are: Harris Ali (Accrington) 13, Joseph Hall (Oldham) 12, Joseph Bannan (Middleton) 10, Lewis Parkin (Tyldesley) 6, Hannah McColgan (Stockport) 8, James Kempster (Stalybridge) 9, Jack Mellor (South Manchester) 7, Miles Fenton (Wilmslow) 9, Katie-Jane Stanley (Oldham) 9, Jefferson Turner (Ashton-under-Lyne) 11, Joe Nono (Trafford) 11, Jake Williams (Lymm) 12, Danielle Monaghan (Leigh) 13.