Last updated at 16:40, Wednesday, 18 July 2012

A GROUP of enthusiastic young golf fans will see their heroes in action when they volunteer at the world’s oldest major championship this week.

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Chetwynde School has been invited to take a team of youngsters to The Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s Golf Club to run the scoreboards at the second hole.

A team of 16 set off from the Barrow school yesterday. They include Chetwynde sixth formers and ex students, who are members of various local golf clubs, and young people from Barrow Golf Club.

Today they were attending the practice, ahead of the famous tournament teeing off tomorrow for its 141st year.

Simon Dutton, a PE teacher at Chetwynde, is leading the group who will be manning the scoreboards as the likes of World Number One, Luke Donald, 2011 Open victor Darren Clarke, and one of the golf’s all time greats, Tiger Woods, all bid to lift The Claret Jug.

The independent school has a partnership with Barrow Golf Club as it takes Year Seven and Year Eight students to play golf there in the summer term.

Mr Dutton said: “We want to share this great opportunity. It’s good that Chetwynde School can offer this to young people from local golf clubs.

“When the opportunity came along it took a second to accept, we are very lucky that it is at Royal Lytham, which is close to us.

“They will be long days. We have to be at the course at 6am and we will be there until about 8.30pm or 9pm.

“This is the very first group and we want to do a good job.

“I’m rooting for the English players, I’d like Justin Rose to win.”

Mr Dutton now hopes the school will be invited to send a team of volunteers to the tournament each year.

Jasmine Petcher, of Chetwynde Sixth Form, and a Barrow Club member has attended the Women’s Open before.

The 18-year-old said: “This is a great opportunity to be asked to do this.

“It’s very positive for the school.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Tiger Woods.”

Nathan Slater, the junior vice captain of Barrow Golf Club, will turn 17 this week while at The Open.

The Barrow teen, who starts as a BAE pipe fitting apprentice in September, and has been to The Open three times before, said: “This will be a very good experience. It’s a great opportunity for Chetwynde, Barrow Golf Club and the other clubs. We want to do a good job.

“It will be good to see Tiger Woods and Luke Donald, who is my favourite player at the moment.”

First published at 16:16, Tuesday, 17 July 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk