Jake Williams and Katie-Jane Stanley - winners of the golf talent contest in Manchester.
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Golf may at last have found a magic formula to reach out to the masses now that a nine-year old girl from Oldham and a 12-year-old boy from Lymm in Cheshire, have won the world's first ever X Factor-style search for young golf talent over the future.
Out of more than 500 kids, who faced the judges, Katie-Jane Stanley (St Mary's RC School, Failsworth) and Jake Williams (Lymm High School) wowed a panel of celebrity judges at the Playgolf Manchester complex as 13 youngsters competed in the final after the North West of England had been scoured for the most promising natural golf talent.
The finalists went through a nerve-wracking audition hitting golf balls and
explaining what they'd learned during four weeks of intensive 'boot camp'
golf training with their professional instructors.
Katie-Jane even learned a trick shot (pictured right) with which to wow the judges.
Judges included Setanta Sports TV presenter, Charlotte Jackson, chairman of selectors for GB&I junior golf, Peter McEvoy OBE, Playgolf Manchester manager Craig Whitfield and event organiser Andy Hiseman.
The winners each received a year’s scholarship to Playgolf Manchester
awarded under R&A amateur status guidelines, plus the opportunity to play
regularly at local golf clubs.
Said Andy Hiseman: “It was a stunning event. We have proved that this is a
magical formula to unlock junior golf talent, wherever you are in the world.
Searching for a golf star in this way has proved to be an innovative and
highly emotional experience for all concerned. Competitions like X Factor,
Pop Idol and Britain’s Got Talent are ingrained in modern society and this
‘Talent Hunt’ has proved to be a great way to make golf contemporary with
young people.”
Craig Whitfield said: “Katie-Jane and Jake not only showed great ball-striking ability, they also had to demonstrate character and ambition. Both youngsters have fantastic potential and we’ll now be working to unlock that promise and see how far they can go in the game.”
Peter McEvoy added: “I was hugely impressed with all of the finalists – but Katie-Jane and Jake each had a spark about them which convinced us that they could develop into potential world-beaters. They certainly have the talent.
“This initiative was all about spotting raw golf talent at an early age and
giving it the opportunity and resources to blossom."
A delighted Jake Williams said: “I’m ecstatic. I used to play
squash but I swapped it for golf a year ago. I’ve never won anything like
this before, it’s amazing.”
Katie-Jane added: “I’m really pleased. I was the third person to
be interviewed right at the start of the competition and I got through to
the end. It’s brilliant.”
Tell us on the forum if you have a trick shot or a golfing 'party-piece' you'd like to share. Better still film it and put it into the Magic Action section.
