Leading PGA Midland professional Stephen Bennett, who joined the European Senior Tour when he was 50 in April last year, and his 15-year-old partner Steven Shortland, became the inaugural winners of the Tony Jacklin Trophy.
Bennett, whose golf academy is based at Waltham Windmill, in Grimsby, partnered the teenager to victory in the pro/junior tournament at Forest Pines Hotel and GC.
Shortland, who plays off six and is one of Bennett's keenest pupils, has fought back from adversity to resume his promising golf career.
"Steven had to put his golf on hold when he had a spell of 10 weeks in hospital," explained Bennett, "so it was a great boost for him when we won." The pair finished 12-under-par on the day and their total of 48 points saw them finish one ahead of runners- up Neil Evans (Greetham Valley) and his partner Tom Caldicott.
"It was good to see so many young golfers involved in this new event and playing with their professional partners.
"Competitors ranged from the age of eight right up to an England international, James Burnett, who plays off plus four.
"Tony Jacklin was an early golfing hero of mine, so I was pleased to take part in this event for which he put up the trophy." Bennett had around ten starts on the Seniors Tour this year, with a high finish of 10th in the tournament at St.Andrews. He is exempt until April this year.
Bennett turned pro 30 years ago.
He played in the 1998 PGA Cup match between Great Britain and Ireland and the United States of America.
On the Tour he won the 1985 Tunisian Open and the following year clinched the Zimbabwe Open title.
He coaches the Lincolnshire county golf union first team which has won the coveted Anglian League amateur trophy for several years and also the county women's team, as well as the county boys' Under 18s and Under 16s along with Gainsborough GC pro Steve Cooper.
But while he continues to enjoy coaching, he also retains his competitive instincts by playing internationally, nationally, regionally and locally.
22 January, 2010