Dan has drive to make it to the top; GOLF ROUND-UP.

YOUNG golf ace Dan White has been hot on the trophy trail all year - and has finished up with five of them.

He has come to the fore so quickly that he has already been offered a scholarship in America, three years before he is eligible.

The Saltburn golfer, who has just turned 15, said: "I was sent a letter from America asking me to go to university there on a scholarship. I have another year at school and two at college before then.

"I would love to go, and make a career out of the game. I didn't apply. They had heard about me and invited me."

There will be a few golfers here who will be ready to see the back of Dan by then, for he's mopping up almost all the trophies.

He is possibly the first 14-year-old to be in a Teesside Golf Union winning side, as he was part of the Saltburn team that clinched the trophy by one point after the final round at Billingham.

"I halved my game, and was a bit nervous because I knew what we needed to do to win," he said.

But trophy-winning is something he is rapidly getting used to. He has this year landed the Teesside Union Boys' Championship, the Saltburn Open, the club's Junior Championship, the six man team championships, as well as the TSGU trophy.

"Saltburn is a very friendly club, and everyone has been a big help to me," said Dan, who took up golf when he was nine, playing with his grandad Geoff Brown.

Dan started with a handicap of 45, but is now down to 2.1, though hopes to get to one by the close of the year.

But like all golfers he sometimes struggles for consistency, saying. "I came 10th in the Men's Championship at the club, but I didn't play well that day."

Even the likes of Tiger Woods has the occasional off day, as he has shown this year. And Dan has three more years to win that one before heading to The States.

* GIFTED golfer Danielle Payne can now shout four on the fairway instead of 'fore' - after celebrating a quartet of titles at Cleveland Golf Club.

The Redcar 17-year-old has won her club's Ladies Championship for the fourth year in a row.

And after sweeping up on home greens she is now thinking about going to America on a golf scholarship when she has finished her studies.

"To win it three times was good and to do it again was great because I didn't think I played well," said the Middlesbrough College student.

"My putting was horrendous but I still managed to win quite comfortably in the end. "A scholarship is something I would consider because I wouldn't mind playing golf professionally.

"You never know, my friend Kim Crooks from Saltburn is turning professional and she is going abroad in December I think."

Sports Science student Danielle won her latest title by four shots after rounds of 79 and 77.

She has a handicap of four and has represented the England second team and played quite a few matches for Yorkshire county junior girls.

From a big golfing family, her 15-year-old sister Samantha - a 17 handicap, made it a family winning double recently by adding a local trophy to her cabinet.

CAPTION(S):

FAIRWAYS TO HEAVEN: Dan White, above, and Danielle Payne