ONE OF the biggest junior golf events on the 2016 North-East sporting calendar is back for another year – and the European Tour title winner driving it wants to make sure it is even better than before.

Graeme Storm, speaking from Johannesburg this week after returning to South Africa where he won his second Tour crown last month, is looking forward to the second Graeme Storm Junior Open.

This year his Junior Open - in association with Dyke House College - will take place on Saturday, April 8, at Hartlepool Golf Club, on the same weekend the world’s best will be battling it out around the Augusta National in the US Masters.

Storm’s very first attempt at hosting his own junior tournament could not have gone much better, with over 130 youngsters competing on the Hartlepool fairways where he learned the game himself as a teenager.

The 38-year-old said: “The amount of kids we got last year was huge and we always wanted to make it an annual thing to try to promote junior golf within the area. To do it again was always in the plan and we are hoping to get the response from the public.

“We moved to the Saturday because even though it is the Easter holidays, parents still have to work during the week so it means they stand a better chance of being able to bring their son/daughter along to play on a weekend.

“We hope to be able to attract more along to the event due to that. The older kids might have part-time jobs too. It was a success last year when we were holding it on a Thursday, so to have it on a Saturday has the potential to make it even more special.”

The Northern Echo’s Fraser from the Fairway golf column will be the official media partner of the Graeme Storm Junior Open in a bid to really help give golf in the area a real boost.

This year’s format will change slightly. The 7-10 years category will be a stableford over nine holes, while the 11-14s will be the best gross for boys and girls in separate categories. Last year it was mixed.

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Impressive prizes will be similar to last year. TaylorMade, Cardinal clothing, Druh Belts & and Buckles, Titleist and Footjoy are all involved to help make the day special.

There will also be a raffle draw where there will be three great bits of memorabilia. There will be a cap signed by the only two English players to have won the Masters: Danny Willett and Nick Faldo.

Gold medallist Justin Rose has signed an Olympic flag from the Rio Games and there will be a commemorative Graeme Storm Junior Open flag signed by 20 players, including six Ryder Cup players and 15 major winners; Tiger Woods is among the names on there.

All proceeds from the raffle and the £10 entry fee will be donated to the Finlay Cooper Fund, the charity of former Middlesbrough defender Colin Cooper who Storm worked with for the first time last year.

Storm’s idea is for his event to grow bigger and bigger but he knows a lot could depend on the numbers he attracts this time around.

He said: “It is about raising money for charity and raising the profile of junior golf. There are junior tours in the area and I don’t want to step on their toes, but I have my own belief that I can grow this event and in the future maybe the Graeme Storm Junior Open could be expanded. That would be fantastic.

“Off the back of me winning in South Africa, I hope more will be attracted to come along. It is about getting more money for the charity and to try to make the Junior Open a bigger event.

“I want this to be a big deal for the whole of the North of England. We have got a lot of entries already from outside the area. Out of the 47 that have entered so far we have 27 that coming from further afield. The British wee wonders champion is coming from Doncaster. We have got kids from Seaton and Hartlepool coming too.”

Storm arrived in Johannesburg on Monday after enjoying a week off. He will stay in South Africa for the Joburg Open, starting on Thursday, and then play in the Tshwane Open in Pretoria next week. He will then be able to take time out to reflect on what has been a memorable year already for the man from Hartlepool.

“It’s been raining, all day,” said the South Africa Open champion attached to Rockliffe Hall. “I had a nice week off and just chilled out. I went up to Archerfield with the kids, did a little bit of practice.

“I will see how I get on in the next two weeks and then I have got six weeks off, a long break. Then I can get back to training, sort a few things out and help gear up towards the Junior Open. I’m really looking forward to it already.”

For further information or to sign up for the Graeme Storm Junior Open check out graemestorm.co.uk or email graemestormjunioropen@gmail.com