Essex boy will take part in Sir Nick Faldo national golfing tour

Zachary currently plays of a 12.3 handicap and is a member of the Rochford Hundred Golf Club

An eight-year-old award-winning golfer from Essex has been "hand-picked" by six-time major winner Sir Nick Faldo to be the ambassador of his junior tour, which starts next year.

Zachary, from Hockley near Southend, started playing golf at 18 months old.

He recently won an international Best Golf Swing in the World competition.

Zachary, who has handicap of 12.3, will compete with youngsters aged seven to 12 across the country as part of the Faldo Futures Junior Tour in 2024.

"I feel really happy and astonished that they picked me," said the youngster, who plays at Rochford Hundred Golf Club.

Children from golf clubs across the country will take part in the qualifying events and then the top two players from each section will qualify for the regional finals.

After the regional finals, the selected children will then compete in the Faldo Futures Final at The Belfry near Birmingham.

Welwyn Garden City's three-time Open and three-time Masters winner Sir Nick Faldo runs a series of junior tours

Zachary added: "My next goal is probably to carry on playing on a British junior tour for kids up to 12.

"I'm hoping to win some of the majors."

His dad, Scott, also plays off a 12 handicap, and said he usually loses to his son.

"We're obviously very incredibly proud of his achievements over the last couple of years," he said.

"I mean he works very, very hard and he misses out on a lot of things. When his friends are at birthday parties. he is out practising or we are away for the weekend, playing events."

Zachary picked up a trophy for Best Swing in the World (for his age group) from US company Little Linksters

Zachary has won several awards including coming second place in the British Junior Gold Tour when he was six years old.