A SPARSHOLT student is celebrating after having made the regional finals of the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year.

Kevin Arnold, who has completed his level two work-based diploma in Sports Turf, is one of only 37 finalists from over 3,500 entries from across the UK.

Mr Arnold currently works at Parkstone Golf Club in Poole with a team of eight greenkeepers.

Sparsholt College lecturer, Georgina Lott, said: “Four of my class actually applied for the Toro Student Greenkeeper Award but Kevin was the only student selected for the regional finals. He has done incredibly well to reach this stage as he was up against 3,499 other students, most of whom were Level 3s (equivalent to A Levels). “Kevin and the others within his group are all enjoying professional success which demonstrates the benefits and value of a work based learning programme.”