Hexham youngster hits a hole-in-one

Only a few professional golfers are able to find the cup from the tee each year, but Matt used a six iron to conquer the hole.

Proud dad, Darren, 42, who is director of operations for North Country Leisure, said other golfers had witnessed the extraordinary event and broke out into cheer - much to the dissatisfaction of Matt's brother, Christopher, 12, who is also a pupil at Hexham Middle School.

Mr Lamb said: "A number of golfers saw it and everyone cheered - apart from his brother, who did his best to hold back his frustration.

"Chris plays as well and he was kind of happy and sick at the same time.

"It was a beautiful shot. He hit it perfectly and it bounced, checked and rolled in to the hole. It doesn't happen for many golfers, and it certainly doesn't happen when you are 10 years old."

Matt only turned his hand to the sport in the last two years, before which he was a talented footballer.

Now the youngster, who has a handicap of 24, hopes to turn pro one day and emulate his idol Sergio Garcia. He said: "I told all my friends and they all said, 'well done'. I want to be a professional golfer now, it was a good feeling to hit the hole-in-one."

Matt will be the subject of a special awards presentation to recognise his hole-in-one when he returns to train with the junior team at Hexham Golf Club, in Northumberland.

Darren, who lives with his wife Sarah Wilson, 46, communications manager at Tynedale Council, said: "They all love him at the golf club.

"He's a bit of a star and a smashing kid. He's very modest about it all though. He beats me all the time now. He used to have the dream of being a footballer, but that dream has switched now - he wants to be a golfer.

"He is a real talent, and we are just trying to support him and not trying to be too pushy. We are not in a position where he is having to putt 1,000 golf balls every day.

"His older brother Chris is a very good player as well. I think we have two promising golfers."

Ian Crawford, club captain at Hexham and the junior organiser, said Matt was a talented golfer who could go the distance.

He said: "He's got a lot of potential. We have quite a few kids with a lot of potential - there are over 100 juniors at the Hexham club, 12 of whom are girls, which is quite unusual .

"Matt is one of the most talented younger players with a lot of natural ability. He has the potential to be club champion."