A GENEROUS teenager who nominated his friend for a national contest found himself sharing the prize, after the organisers were impressed by his generous gesture and excellently-worded entry.

Oliver Hulme, 16, a keen golfer since the age of 10 and Junior Captain Elect at Chippenham Golf Club, entered his good friend Ed Tomsett into a national golf competition last summer, looking for a player who had taken up the sport recently and shown enthusiasm and commitment, and won. Both boys go to Hardenhuish School in Chippenham.

Over 2,000 entries were received and the judges were particularly drawn to Oliver’s entry, which they thought was extremely well worded, and were very surprised when they realised he was only 15 at the time and had chosen to nominate a friend. They said: "Oliver’s words showed a maturity expected from a proud parent entering their own child. We were very impressed.”

The prize offered the winner a four-hour golf clinic with the the four-time major winner Rory McIlroy and his coach, together with a nearest the pin competition where Rory was giving his own putter as first prize.

The boys were flown over to Belfast for two days just before Christmas, and enjoyed half a day with the legend himself at his home club, Holywood Golf Club.