Yorkshire golf: Has Hornsea GC professional Stretton Wright unearthed the successor to Tiger Woods?

Eighteen-month-old James Pearson with his first golf club.Eighteen-month-old James Pearson with his first golf club.
Eighteen-month-old James Pearson with his first golf club.
IF I had a fiver for every time I have heard a golfer say 'I wish I'd taken up the game earlier', I would not be far behind Rory McIlroy in terms of earnings.

Add in every time I have said it myself and I might make the Forbes Rich List.

Master James Pearson, pictured top, is unlikely to have any such regrets. For his father, Hornsea GC member Stuart Pearson, has already set him off on the right path at just 18 months old.

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"On Saturday Stuart Pearson brought his 18-month-old son James up to the club," said Hornsea's club professional and director of golf Stretton Wright..

A young Tiger Woods, who went on to win 14 major titles - and counting. Possibly.A young Tiger Woods, who went on to win 14 major titles - and counting. Possibly.
A young Tiger Woods, who went on to win 14 major titles - and counting. Possibly.

"Well, I am always keen to get people golfing so I went into the back shop and found the smallest club we have got (it was still miles too long) and gave it to James.

"His little face lit up and that was it. He just wanted to be out hitting balls. Definitely a future club champion in the making.

"Now it was freezing cold, but he would have stayed out for hours. He has already got a better swing than his dad."

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On Wednesday, Stretton and his own son, Nathan, will hope to play their part in securing Hornsea the title as the season's top club at the last of 10 East Riding & York Alliance meetings, at Driffield GC.

A young Tiger Woods, who went on to win 14 major titles - and counting. Possibly.A young Tiger Woods, who went on to win 14 major titles - and counting. Possibly.
A young Tiger Woods, who went on to win 14 major titles - and counting. Possibly.

The pair just missed out on victory in the Alliance meeting at Filey on countback, but together with another Hornsea pairing - EuroPro Tour player Steve Uzzell and Mark Cooke, who also equalled the top score on the day - helped strengthen the club's lead to 14 points over Hessle GC.

"We have one hand on the trophy. We just need a strong finish at Driffield," said Wright snr. "The team we have out to try and finish the job is Adrian Rosindale and Sam Middleton, myself and Nathan, and Rees Brown and Mark Cooke. It would be great to see some members cheering us on."

Because of flood damage to the course, East Riding & York Alliance's Presidents Salver has been pushed back a month.

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It has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 20 rather than its original date of March 23.

At the alliance's AGM, John Nicholson stood down after 23 years as their secretary/treasurer. During his tenure John was always ably supported by his wife, Judy, in running the alliances.

The couple thanked all alliance clubs and their members who contributed to gifts of flowers and euros, which were presented at the AGM.

Nicholson's successor is Alistair Burns, of Pike Hills GC, a PGA professional whose career began at Pike Hills in 1992 under head professional Ian Gradwell.

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He worked, for a time, at two clubs in northern Germany and on his return to the UK in 2001 he took up a position in retail and remained in the industry before returning to Pike Hills as their secretary.

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