Reddish Vale Golf Club has a proud record of producing top junior players with the likes of Adam Stott, Barry Barker, Ryan Jackson and more recently Abbie Cowlard, the reigning Cheshire Ladies champion.
Now Curtis Brokenbrow, who was junior captain at Reddish a few years ago, has set a new mark for the club by becoming their first-ever player to win a golf scholarship in the USA.
Curtis, 19 and playing off +1 handicap, completed his first term at Missouri Baptist University (MBU) of a four year course and came back to catch up with his family and golfing pals at Reddish Vale and Stockport Golf Club.
Curtis was introduced to golf in Tenerife at the age of eight by his grandad Alan Booth and then followed it up by joining Reddish as a junior and his sporting talent soon saw him make rapid strides in the game.
He played for Cheshire juniors for three years, was the club champion of Stockport and the Wednesday section Golfer of the Year in 2012, 2013 and 2014 as well as winning the coveted Jubilee Cup.
In 2015 he had a great run in the Cheshire match-play championships at Warrington when he was beaten in the final by ex-professional Jon Beesley (Mere) on the first play-off hole and along the way he beat James McCormick, now a professional, 5/3 in the quarter-final.
Determined
He was determined to continue his education from Reddish Vale High School and Stockport College by securing a golf scholarship in the USA and was delighted to win a place at MBU and begin his course in August 2015.
Curtis said: “The golfing opportunities and chances to improve my game have certainly been fulfilled at MBU where I have been able to play in Inter College tournaments and travel to five states and I have already finished as runner-up in one Inter College tournament.
“On the academic side I am doing courses in Sports Management and business administration as well as a course for one year on basic education – these involve about ten hours of lectures and five hours of homework per week.
“Once I have got my degree I will then think about what direction I will follow in golf or sport.
“I would advise any other young golfer thinking of applying for a golf scholarship to make sure that they look into every aspect on what the university offers and take to study carefully whether their profile matches your aims and ambitions before applying.
“It was great to come home and meet up with family and friends and play some golf on the two fine courses at Reddish and Stockport.
“I would also like to thanks my parents Steve and Michelle, my brothers Daniel and Bradley, my coach Daniel Haughian and all of the members and staff at Reddish and Stockport for their continued support and encouragement at all times.”
“I finish the first year of my course in May and will be looking to play in the Cheshire stroke-play championship at Prestbury and the Cheshire match-play championship at Caldy as well as in Northern Order of Merit competitions.”
