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Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year

Rhys Norville, Greenkeeper at Newport Golf Club, has won the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award 2009.

Rhys originally won the Wales & West Regional Final in July and was put forward to the National Finals which took place on 13 th & 14 th September at the Headquarters of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association, near York.

Rhys was one of eight finalists who had to produce a full critical appraisal of a nearby course and put forward recommendations for improvements which he presented to a panel of judges.

For winning, Rhys will embark on an eight-week all expenses paid trip to the USA including a six-week residential scholarship to the University of Massachusetts, a visit to the Golf Industry Show in San Diego, California and a visit to the Toro Headquarters.

On returning to Newport, Rhys said “I am overwhelmed at being chosen as the UK Greenkeeper of the Year and would like to thank everyone who has helped and supported me in achieving this. I am very excited about the prize and am really looking forward to the experience.”

Newport Golf Club Secretary, Russell Thomas, explained “The Club is extremely proud of Rhys who has developed well as a greenkeeper over the last few years. This is just reward for all his efforts and we are sure that his career in Greenkeeping will be a long and distinguished one”.

September 18, 2009