SEVENTEEN-year-old Bamburgh Castle golfer Garrick Porteous has had the icing put on his cake following another fine season, after being awarded a golf scholarship at the University of Tennessee in the United States, writes Chris Robinson.
The talent of the plus-one player, who is now both a junior and senior Northumberland county player, was spotted by Jim Kelson, the Tennessee University golf coach, when Porteous was playing in the Henry Cooper Tournament at the Nizels Course, at Tun
bridge Wells in Kent.
Kelson was so impressed that he flew Garrick out to Tennessee to see the set-up and, following the trip, offered him a four-year golf scholarship where he is also to study for a degree in graphic design.
Kelson said: " We're thrilled Garrick has accepted to join our golf programme. To recruit golfers like him is crucial to us. He's an extremely bright young man, with superb technical skills, a terrific temperament and has the drive, desire and work ethic that's needed to move our golf programme forward. He is without question one of the best teenage golfers in the world."
In September, Garrick played for the England under 18 team in the World Championships at Royal Niagara in Ontario, Canada, and finished a very credible fifth in the individual scores.
He has also been awarded a Tass Scholarship from the English Golf Union for which he will receive £3,000 to assist with coaching, travel expenses, accommodation, etc, in this country.
Like Ashington's Kenneth Ferrie, he is under the wing of top coach John Harrison from Matfen Hall and has also recently been receiving further tuition from the EGU at Woodhall Spa.
Kevin Cademy-Taylor, the Northumberland captain, said: "Garrick is a dedicated young player with a great talent, and should have a very successful future in the game.
"His attitude is spot on and he deserves to reap the rewards from his excellent results over the last two seasons."
Garrick starts his Golf Scholarship in 2008/2009 and, coincidentally, will join 21-year-old Chris Paisley, who will be in his final year, also at the University of Tennessee!
Paisley won the Northumberland County Championship for the first time this year, going one better than four years ago when he was runner-up to Stocksfield team mate Chris McDonnell in the final at Foxton Hall, Alnmouth.
Paisley emulated his 27-year-old brother Andrew, who won the County Championship in 2000 and is now an assistant professional and coach at Matfen Hall, which was the venue in August. Chris became the first amateur in history to win a PGA event – The Rock Tournament.
Garrick's parents, John and Sian are delighted with his progress in the game and have given him unstinting support, transporting him to many tournaments both locally and throughout the country.
They said: "Garrick has made many new friends throughout the Britain and from playing in the World Championships in Canada.
