Stoke Park Golf Club in Buckinghamshire has unveiled the latest generation of talented youngsters to have won a place on its coveted scholarship programme.
The final roll call of students was whittled down from the hundreds that took part in try-out days at the end of last year, with a shortlisted group of 24 narrowed down to the 16 that have just embarked on the year-long programme, which runs until November.
The class of 2015 comprises 10 boys and six girls, of which five are new to the programme, while the remaining nine have carried over their involvement from the previous year.
The old hands are Nathalie Warke, John Gough, Izzy Holmes, Julia Warke, Conor Gough, Thalia Kirby, James Gregory, Taylor Paul, Thomas Gregory, Daisy Kennedy and Carl Banner, while the new recruits are Nandit Sondagar, Charlie Herbert. Ben McFadden, Georgina Bowers and James Woakes.
The scholarship programe is managed by Stoke Park PGA professional Stuart Rank, assisted by fellow profession James Jewell. Speaking to GolfNews, Rank said: “The results from previous players on the scheme have been fantastic across the board, with many reducing their handicaps significantly, representing club teams, and winning at county, European and worldwide level.Many of the under 14 boys have been successful participants in the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Nike Futures Tour, while others have also been selected for county squads – the boys in BB&O U12’s and U14’s and Elite, the girls in BCLGA junior and adult teams.
Several players have also passed trials for England regional squads.”
Each student will have one group lesson and one individual lesson each month, and will be able to make use of the Buckinghamshire club’s fitness facilities to work on golf-specific training regimes. They will also be given a scholar’s uniform, which they will be required to wear during all competitions and club events.