EASINGWOLD Golf Club has bade the fondest farewell to assistant professional Stuart Rank after he bagged a berth at one of the world's foremost clubs.

Rank has been appointed as qualified assistant pro at the Stoke Park Club. Sited just a few miles outside Windsor, Stoke Park has been ranked as one of the top 100 clubs in the world.

So while sad at the departure of the youngster, Easingwold's members were thrilled at the advance made by their one-time assistant.

Rank took up his post at Easingwold alongside professional John Hughes in 1999.

Four years later, he joined the Professional Golf Association as a trainee and at the end of the third year he was ranked fourth out of a total of 300 trainees, gaining no fewer than two distinctions and four merits in his exams which earned him an award from Lord Derby at a gala dinner at The Belfry.

In his new position he will run Stoke Park's junior academy as well as support the head coach and director of golf in their corporate clinics.

Before his departure Rank thanked the club membership and paid particular tribute to pro Hughes. Said Rank: "He has been a great boss and a pleasure to work with.

"He has shown me the right way to go - usually straight down the middle."