KENNETH Ferrie won his first European Tour Title last weekend and nobody was more pleased then Salmesbury Golf Centre coach Jeff Mathews.

While coaching in Northumberland, Mathews, coached the young golfer along with his promising older brother.

"He had his first lessons with me when I was the club coach at Bedlington in Northumberland," said Mathews.

"He must have been about ten at the time. Even then though you were able to see the ability and determination he possessed.

"I used to teach him and his brother Ian, who is also now a pro. They were both excellent and to be honest at that point Ian looked the better player.

"The people at the club were always raving about Ian but Kennie had a better short game. He was only little but he had a great short game."

The Northumberland golfer birdied on the par-five 18th, the second hole in a tense play-off to clinch the Canaries Spanish Open in Tenerife.

It was the first European Tour title for Ferrie, whose previous best tour finish to this event was third place.

Some bookmakers had the 24 year old at 150-1 to win the event.

Ferrie was 75th on the European money list going into the event, but defeated Peter Lawrie and Peter Hedblom to emerge victorious from the nerve-racking play-off.

"I kept checking the scores at the Spanish Open on teletext. I was so pleased for him and pleased for the whole family. I follow his progress eagerly. They're a really nice family, and his mum and dad will be over the moon," said Mathews.

"Kennie is the only player I have coached who has won a tour, so it was a special moment for us both."

It is a busy time at the moment for Jeff, who has been massively involved with the transformation of the golf centre where he is now based at Salmesbury.

"I am busy at the centre doing a lot of coaching. I teach people of all abilities here. I am teaching all day every day. I've actually built the centre, it's my place.

"The driving range here has been open a year and half and I have a little par three course hopefully opening in about four weeks time. Once I get my par three course open then I will begin to concentrate my attention on coaching the younger players and introduce a proper junior section."

Jeff has enjoyed a long career in the golfing World, which has seen him play at courses all the over the Globe.

"30 years I have been involved in some way with golf now. I have been a pro and coached for 24 years. I have had a European Tour Card and played in the British Open, which stand out as outstanding memories for me during my career. It's everyone's dream to play in the Open, and I was no exception.

"I've been at Blackburn for 13 years and most people know me for my coaching."

In 1992 though Jeff gave a rather special golfer some seemingly needed tips and coaching.

"It is true that I once gave Seve Ballesteros a lesson when we were out in Thailand. He was on the practise ground and he was struggling and he asked me to have a look at him. Obviously it was a great experience for me. Seve is one of the legends of the sport.

" It was also good because he won the tournament the week after. It was good because after he came and said thank you in front of all my friends."

With his first tour win now under his belt, Ferrie will be looking to build on this impressive win.

Jeff joked:"I hope he stays sober, stops losing his temper and he wins more. But seriously I wish Kennie and his brother all the best for the future."