Donald Honoured by Beaconsfield

Walker Cup hero Luke Donald has been given honorary membership of Beaconsfield Golf Club in recognition of his achievements as an amateur golfer.

Club captain Allan Robertson presented the 22-year-old with a specially-commissioned painting of the clubhouse and a commemorative certificate to mark the rare occasion.

Luke, who joined the club as a 13-year-old in 1991, was a key member of the Great Britain & Ireland team which won the Walker Cup at Nairn last September. The Cup was on display at the presentation evening.

A student at Northwestern University in America, Donald won the prestigious US National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Championship in 1999 and was ranked first in the Golf Stat Cup which is awarded to the college golfer with the lowest stroke average for the year.

His average of 70.45 improved the record set in 1996 by Tiger Woods. To mark these achievements, the Golf Coaches' Association of America made Donald the first British recipient of the Jack Nicklaus Award, its 'player of the year' prize.

As well as his Walker Cup success, Donald has gained international honours at all levels, including membership of the four-man GB & Ireland team which won the World Amateur Team Championships (the Eisenhower Trophy) at Santiago, Chile, in November 1998.

He played in the 1999 Open at Carnoustie having been the leading qualifier at Panmure where he set a new course record of 65.

In a letter of congratulation, Sir Michael Bonallack, Captain of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, said: "It is not only his skill on the golf course but it is also the way in which Luke conducts himself, and especially his modesty, which is so impressive."