Close House’s Sally Hinton has become a Hall of Famer at an American university.
The 30-year-old, who hails from a family of PGA Professionals, was inducted into Missouri State University’s Hall of Fame.
She flew out to the States to attend a presentation and accept the award for her achievements while studying there in her early 20s.
Hinton, whose dad, Paul, and uncle, Phil, and late grandfather Ron were all PGA club pros, became the most accomplished player in the college’s history by winning her first two tournaments, the Hawkeye Intercollegiate and Chip-N-Club Invitational.
Hinton, who majored in geography during her four-year scholarship, was voted Outstanding Female Athlete during her final year.
She said: “It felt brilliant to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I wasn’t expecting it so it was a great honour.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Missouri State and loved going back for the induction.”
After graduating, Hinton became assistant to current Bridgnorth professional Steve Russell, and completed her training and PGA foundation degree before moving to Newcastle in 2010.
Her duties at Close House as a golf-teaching professional include teaching and custom fitting a variety of clients aged from four right up to 83.
Hinton said: “Coaching takes up most of my time now and I have very little time for working on my own game, but I still get the same enjoyment out of helping the players I teach improve.”