Ten juniors from across the North East have been selected to join the newly formed Steve McClaren Golf Academy under-12 squad.
The players – Amelia Temperly, Mary McNamara, Charlie Hancill, Oscar O’Connor, George King, Evan Oliver, Finley Hall, Lewis O’Rourke, Thomas Suggit and Evie Goodman – will join the academy system led by Close House-based PGA professional Simon Robinson, strength and conditioning coach Stuart Parnaby, and sports psychologist Josh McClaren.
The players were selected following evaluation sessions at Close House, which included skills challenges and discussions with the academy’s coaches.
Simon said: “The evaluation day was incredibly rewarding and we’re confident we’ve identified 10 players with the right attitude to be part of the academy.
“The programme is a big commitment as we’re aiming to prepare players to become elite golfers through working with Stuart, Josh and I on a regular basis as well as doing their own practise. The passion of all the players selected really shone through on the evaluation day and we’re looking forward to working with them in the months ahead, and hopefully seeing them progress into the full academy squad.”
The academy was launched in 2020 by former England, Middlesbrough and Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren and is run by PGA professional Simon Robinson, a former tour player turned elite-level coach to DP World Tour players; Stuart Parnaby, who works with top golfers including PGA Tour member Callum Tarren; and Josh McClaren, who has worked with a number of leading sportspeople including Women’s Super League players.
The full academy squad features Toby Mitford, Tom Hartshorne, Millie Hixon, Ben Mawson and Callum Brown. Their list of achievements in the first two years of the system includes a Durham junior championship, an 11-year-old reaching a two handicap, and a growing list of national and international honours.
