A GOLFER who became one of the youngest players to win his club championship has dedicated his win to his grandad who is battling leukaemia.
Denim Rodgers, 18, was ‘heartbroken’ that grandad Brian Greaves could not see him lift the trophy at Hillies Golf Course, Wombwell.
“He taught me everything I know,” said Denim, of Regent Court, Hoyland. “Hopefully he’s proud of me, he’s the main reason I’ve done it.
“My grandad won the club championship four times in a row, and to be on the same board as him and my dad is not something I expected at the start of the year.
“He’s been a big influence on my life in every aspect, he’s done a lot for me and been there when I needed him with no exceptions.
“The main thing he taught me was if you have bad days you have to go back out and see where you went wrong, and you’ve got to sort it out.”
Golfing talent runs in the family, with Denim’s dad Stuart, 44, previously acting as club captain.
Denim, who studies at Barnsley College, practices at least five times a week and his 65-year-old grandad regularly takes him to the course in a morning.
“I actually wasn’t a big fan of it at the start,” he said. “But everyone in our family does it so I didn’t want to be that person who doesn’t.
“It’s not easy, everyone I play against has been playing for many years, so for me to win the championship within the space of three years is a big achievement.
“I’m going to carry on for as long as possible, I want to progress and enter more competitions.”
Denim’s mum Lisa, 37, said she was ‘extremely proud’ of her son and knew her dad Brian was as well.
“He gets up early every morning to practice,” she said. “My dad used to be a keen golfer and he’s taught Denim a lot, helping him with bits of his swing and supporting him.
“He was really disappointed he wasn’t there to see him win. Denim has grown up with him and to see his grandson who he is really close to achieve something like this means the world to my dad.”
