STADIUM Golf Academy director and PGA professional Tom Denby has landed a European award after being nominated by the parent of one his junior coaching successes.

Denby, who has been teaching for several years, won the Junior Coach of the Year award, the first from the Pro Shop Europe magazine.

His success followed his nomination by Alan Robinson, who is the father of Alex Robinson, the first winner of the ‘Golf Factor’ – the junior talent search competition, instigated by John Andrew.

He was short-listed with three other successful coaches, but was announced the winner at the European Tour headquarters at Wentworth Golf Club, in Surrey, and presented with his award by former Ryder Cup player Paul Way.

“To win the award was a great moment, both for me and the team, and it’s great recognition for the hard work we put into making the game of golf more accessible to everyone,” admitted Denby.

“I could not have won it without the support of my team around me, in particular James Beattie, who has played such a huge part in setting up a lot of the projects and helping me to deliver them, not just in the Huddersfield, Halifax area, but also in the regions of our other Academies in Cambridge, Walsall and Solihull.”

As part of the John Letters Academy, Denby and his team have taken their golf programme into over 50 schools in the Huddersfield area, and as he remarked: “One of the most rewarding projects is working with disadvantaged children.”