Skipton Golf Club’s Junior Order of Merit winner for 2009 is 14-year-old Ben Lowry.

Ben took part in nine of the ten rounds of the competition played during the school holidays from April to September.

Ben won two of the rounds in July and September and his total of 59 points was one of the highest totals since the competition was introduced some six years ago.

Skipton Golf Club’s Junior Golf Co-ordinator Kirk Humphreys, said: “The competition’s aim is to give new junior members, boys and girls, a chance to play competitive golf and reduce their handicaps.

“All new junior members are given a handicap of 54 and play over an 11 hole, shortened, blue course. Once they get down to 36 they play the 18 hole course, yellow tees for boys, red tees for girls.”

A total of 42 boys and five girls took part this year with ages ranging from seven to 17 years.

Humphreys said: “The Order of Merit has been sponsored by Bullough’s Cleaning Services since its inception.

“The company also sponsor the club’s thriving Junior Academy, which has provided coaching and competitions for over 100 juniors this year and the club are grateful for their continued support.”

The junior committee are still building on their past achievements; two years ago they were given High Achiever GolfMark status and back in February this year the English Golf Union announced that Skipton was the best golf club in the North of England for junior golf development.

At present the committee are working on a grant application for £10,000, through Sport England, to construct an all-weather short game area, with disabled access, on the new junior practice field.

If successful it would not only benefit the junior members at Skipton but also the local schools and community groups in the area who would be invited to use the facility free.