A 12-YEAR-OLD golfer has shot his first hole-in-one.

Peter Blackbourn, 12, sank the ball during play for the Allaway Trophy at his home club on Thursday.

He has only been playing at Darlington Golf Club for 18 months and was competing in his sixth tournament.

His feat came at the par three third and was all the more remarkable because it attracted viewers from the nearby clubhouse.

His father, Graham, who stopped playing golf when he was in his 20s, said: "Some of the officials at the golf club say hopefully you will get a hole-in-one at some point, but sometimes you do not.

"But to do it on the third, where everyone was watching in front of the clubhouse, was a remarkable achievement."

Peter still plays off his handicap of 24, but is capable of rounds as low as ten over par.

Mr Blackbourn said: "He got into the game himself. He just loves the game. He plays morning, noon and night.

"He rang me straight away. He was over the moon. I was excited about it, too.

"I have caddied with him and seen him chip into the pin for an eagle, but never anything like this."

His hole-in-one came during an impressive opening nine holes, but two double-bogeys on the back nine saw him drop away.

And although Mr Blackbourn gave his son money to buy a traditional round of drinks after a hole-in-one, being only 12, Peter has instead put the money away for new equipment.