Rookie Leeke scores with golf career

Rookie (l-r): Titleist's Matthew Johnson, PGA captain Nicky Lumb, Daniel Leeke and Bernard Gallacher

An aspiring PGA Professional has hit the back of the net with his golf career after seeing his dreams of becoming a football star wrecked by injury.

Daniel Leeke, a PGA Assistant at Hawkstone Park in Shropshire, has aced his first year on the three-year PGA Foundation degree as he was named Rookie of the Year.

The 23-year-old, who was on the books of Shrewsbury Town as a teenager and was being scouted by the likes of Wolves and Bolton before a knee injury ended his hopes, was recognised for his achievement at the annual PGA Graduation Ceremony at the University of Birmingham.

He collected the Major John Bywaters Trophy and a cheque for £1,000 from Titleist brand director Matthew Johnson, former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher and PGA Captain Nicky Lumb.

Leeke, who achieved a first class degree in golf at the University of Lincoln, was introduced to the game by his dad at the age of four but it wasn’t until he was 16 that it became a career option.

“I played golf till I was about 11 but then football dominated. I had a couple of injuries, including a knee operation when I was 13, which pushed me back towards golf.

“I started playing again competitively at 16 and the aim then was to improve my handicap and get it to the level required.

“I joined Hawkstone Park as a member when I was 18 or 19 and it while I was here that I heard about the job. I was getting some coaching with the head pro and was told of a possible opportunity.

“I was finishing my degree at the time but then the job opportunity came up and after finishing uni I got the job.

“My degree has helped on the course but there is so much I have also learned in the first year with regards to custom fitting and the business side of golf. It was really interesting. The intensity has been upped somewhat while I’ve been doing my second year.”

The PGA training programme, encompassing the three year Foundation Degree, was founded more than 50 years ago and covers all aspects of golf including business, equipment technology and repairs, rules and tournament organisation, sports science and sports psychology.

Training and education remain an integral part of The PGA - it also runs an honours degree in association with the University of Birmingham and this year has launched a new partnership with the University of Highlands and Islands in Scotland.

Once qualified, PGA Members undergo a process of continual professional development to keep them up to speed with all the latest developments in the sport and wider golf industry.

PGA chief executive Sandy Jones said: “The PGA Graduation day is always inspirational and gives me great confidence each year the game of golf is in good hands for generations to come.

“The quality of the graduates coming through our PGA training programme are second to none and there’s no doubt they are starting at the beginning of their careers which will take them to almost any corner of the world.

“I congratulate each and every one of them for their hard work and effort they have put into obtaining the qualification. I wish them all success wherever the game of golf takes them.”

Matthew Johnson, Titleist brand director, 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.

“Titleist has had a long standing commitment to PGA professionals, we realise and endorse that they 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, we look forward to working with them and would like wish them well with their future careers.”