TALK about a big day out for a ten-year-old. Young Devon golfer Harrison Grainger has had an experience most golfers could only dream about, teeing it up at Wentworth in the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am alongside Ryder Cup captain and former world number one Luke Donald. And Harrison certainly wasn’t overawed by the occasion.

The Stover starlet earned his place through the Golf Foundation’s nationwide Unleash Your Drive competition and, with a packed grandstand watching on the famous West Course, calmly launched his opening tee shot down the fairway – before promptly birdieing the first hole!

“I was nervous but then I birdied the first hole, and loved it,” said Harrison, who was the youngest player ever to take part in the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am.

Harrison is clearly a youngster who loves his golf. His home club is Stover, but he also has memberships at Torquay, St Mellion and China Fleet, giving him plenty of opportunity to indulge his passion for the game – and plenty of courses to hone his skills. Harrison is already part of the DevonGolf Junior U12s squad.

His route to Wentworth began with more than 4,000 golfers taking part in Unleash Your Drive, a Golf Foundation competition which raises funds to support junior golf. Harrison then headed to The Grove for the national final where his excellent 38 points secured third place and, with it, the chance to play in the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am.

Alongside fellow finalists Gavin Moore and Dean Fair, Harrison represented Team Golf Foundation with Luke Donald joining them for a very special round.

For a ten-year-old from Devon, it was quite a stage on which to showcase his golf – and Harrison rose to the occasion magnificently. “It’s been incredible,” he said. “We all played well and it was so much fun.”

The Golf Foundation’s programmes encourage young people to develop confidence, focus and the ability to deal with pressure. Harrison certainly demonstrated all three at Wentworth – although perhaps his ability to produce a birdie in front of a packed grandstand deserves a special mention.

From Stover to Wentworth, this was one Devon youngster who certainly enjoyed his well-deserved moment in the spotlight.