DUCK! - that's the first thought when you think of blind golfing, but Tom Rawlinson has mastered the art by winning a blind golf championship.

Tom won his first major blind golf tournament in the English Strokeplay Championship at Grange Park Golf Club, St Helens.

And duck is the right word as Tom himself admits: " My advice would be to never stand too close to a blind golfer.

"I once hit a duck which got in the way of one of my shots. I was really annoyed because it would have been a good hit!"

Tom, from South Shore, started playing golf nine years ago and is pleased with his recent form, although it has taken a lot of practice and determination to get back the confidence he lost with his sight three years ago.

"I went blind through diabetes and was devastated because I thought I couldn't play golf anymore, but I got in touch with the English Blind Golf Association and joined them at the end of the season.

"Before the season finished I won the chairman's competition and as a newcomer probably scared them all to death.

"Now I play every day on a piece of carpet in my home and my wife acts as my guide.

"In the competitions my wife places the club in the direction she wants me to hit and then I aim. She's a non-golfer but we both enjoy the competitions and we've made lots of friends.

"Now that I have got my confidence back I am aiming for more competitive contests. In August I will be entering the British Open in Scotland and then the Masters, a four-day event held in the Midlands.

"I am happy to be back competing because to me there's nothing like winning."

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