TEENAGE golfer Kevin Goude is to make his first steps towards a professional golf career. The 19-year-old, from Murrow, is to take part on the PGA EuroPro Tour. The tour starts in April and features more than 500 top up-and-coming golfers in Europe compet

TEENAGE golfer Kevin Goude is to make his first steps towards a professional golf career.

The 19-year-old, from Murrow, is to take part on the PGA EuroPro Tour.

The tour starts in April and features more than 500 top up-and-coming golfers in Europe compete for a share of a £1 million prize fund.

Goude, who plays off a plus one handicap, is one major success story of Tydd St Giles Golf Club's flourishing junior section.

He joined as an 11-year-old and has been seen as the club's best player for several years.

Mike Barton helped to set up a junior section eight years ago.

He said: "We were short on junior members at the time, so offered youngsters free membership. It went really well and we now have about 90 junior members on the books.

"Kevin has been the best player in the entire club for some years now, and he just shows others what can be achieved."

Juniors at the club range in age for five to 19.

Many play in the Lincs Junior League, which starts in July.

Tydd St Giles finished runner-up in the league for three years in a row, from 2003.

Tom Brooks, 16, who has a seven handicap, won three trophies at the club last year: The The Gold Medal Trophy, Golfer of the Year and The Ken Doughty Trophy, which is for most improved golfer of the year.

And Jordan Hart, 13, won the Rabbits Cup and Junior Open at the club last year.

Barton said: "Golf is such a wonderful discipline and it can help youngsters in so many aspects of life.

"They have to behave, have concentration and focus and because golf is an individual sport, it really brings out a person's character."

Juniors meet at the club every Saturday and Sunday between 10-11am when they receive coaching from PGA professional Ashley Howard.

Anyone wishing to find out further information is welcome to attend.