THE region’s biggest champion of junior golf has called a £20,000 donation from the first International Series England tournament “game-changing”.

The Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs (NUGC) will now be able to expand its coaching programmes for under-18s for the next five years.

The NUGC received the sum as a thank you from the Asian Tour event, held at Slaley Hall, for its work in helping young golfers develop their talents.

The union takes in over 40 golf clubs, from whom they are solely supported by an annual £5 levy paid by approximately 15,000 members.

Graham Forrest, men’s captain of the NUGC, said: “Too often, the North-East of England is forgotten about, particularly in golf terms.

"This financial input, together with the substantial time put in by many county administrators, could help establish Northumberland junior golf at the forefront of the sport nationally for many years to come.”

David Rollo, COO of the Asian Tour, added: “It is our immense honour to hand this cheque over to the Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs.

"Wherever we take these events, it is vital to us that their impact is being felt within golf from grassroots level up.

“The work Mark, Simon, Phil and Graham have done over the last four years at the NUGC has been incredible to learn about and we wish them and all their young golfers every success for the coming years.”

Four of the NUGC's junior golfers also enjoyed the chance of teeing up alongside stars in the pro-am staged on the eve of the tournament.