Burton is Midlands' top PGA graduate

Ryan Burton (second left) was toasting his success as the leading PGA in England (Midlands) PGA assistant in the Titleist PGA Assistant of the Year awards.

The 30-year-old, based at Ladbrook Park Golf Club near Solihull, was among the leading finishers among more than 250 of his peers who have completed the three-year PGA Foundation Degree in Professional Golf.

In recognition of his achievement Burton was congratulated by Titleist European marketing manager Jonathan Dowdell (left), PGA captain Neil Selwyn-Smith (right) and guest BBC journalist Naga Munchetty (second right) at the PGA Graduation Ceremony at the University of Birmingham on Friday April 19.

Dowdell said: “We are pleased to continue our support of the Titleist PGA Assistant of the Year award, recognising this as a starting point of the PGA's commitment to provide its members with a framework for lifelong learning.

“PGA Professionals play a key role in the development and growth of the game across all levels, and we are delighted to support the next generation of qualified professionals and to wish them well with their future careers.”

The PGA training programme, which was founded 1961, concentrates on all aspects of golf including coaching, business, equipment technology and repairs, rules and tournament organisation, sports science, sports psychology and playing.

The PGA’s chief executive Sandy Jones said:  “PGA Graduation is a day of celebration for young men and women who have successfully completed their PGA foundation degree and have now rightfully joined the ranks as a PGA Member.

“Graduation is really just the beginning of a career that will take these young men and women across the globe to wherever the game of golf is played.

“I know they have many decades ahead of them working in a profession that for me is the greatest game in the world. I wish them all good luck and enormous success wherever their journey may take them.”