Northumberland 12-year-old wins Ping Junior Masters at Close House
A 12-year-old golfer from Northumberland has beaten competitors from across the UK to win the overall title at the 2026 Lee Westwood PING Junior Masters Grand Final.
Aidan Robson secured the Boys' Under-12 title before going on to finish top of the entire field, recording 40 Stableford points (78 gross) on the challenging Lee Westwood Colt Course at Close House.
The final, held on October 27, brought together 70 young golfers who had qualified through nine events across seven counties, with six titles contested across the Under-12, Under-15 and Under-18 boys' and girls' categories.
Aidan's performance came just two days after Storm Boelo brought severe weather and strong winds to the North East. The Colt Course, a championship venue that has hosted professional tournaments, provided a demanding test for the young finalists.
There were five other category winners on the day. Francine Mellor won the Girls' Under-12 title with 32 points, Max Meanwell the Boys' Under-15 with 38, and Zuri Patel the Girls' Under-15 with 35. Jamie Kemp claimed the Boys' Under-18 title with 38 points, while Amelie Browne won the Girls' Under-18 competition with 36.
Aidan's victory also marks a special moment for Close House, as he becomes the first junior member of the club to win the overall competition since it was established in 2017.
Former world number one Lee Westwood attended the final, presenting the prizes and spending time with the young competitors. He also took part in a question-and-answer session, giving the finalists an opportunity to hear from one of golf's most accomplished professionals and learn about his career at the highest level.
The competition, established with the support of Westwood, PING Europe and Close House, continues to provide young golfers from across the UK with the opportunity to compete on a national stage.
For Aidan, winning the overall title at just 12 years of age, against competitors across three age groups, is a significant achievement in his developing golfing career.