IT'S the quiet revolution going on in York and North Yorkshire golf.

Martin Brown may have won his eighth York Amateur Championship at The Oaks at the end of May but, just as noticeable as that landmark success, was the prominence of junior talent towards to the top of the leaderboard.

Malton & Norton's David Hague, last year's matchplay champion and a new addition to the senior squad this season, was just a shot behind Brown and Fulford's James Cass, the Seward Trophy winner, finished tied fourth in an event which attracted the best of the region golfers.

For Sian Statters, the junior team co-ordinator at the York Union of Golf Clubs, the emergence of young players who can compete at the top level is testament to four years of work to revitalise a section which has now expanded dramatically.

"About four years ago, when I took it on, we had about 20 juniors. Now we have got 92 and 20 girls. It has grown dramatically," he explained. "There are lots of juniors coming through and we have got lots of young ones coming through that really are keen.

"We have the likes of Matthew Roberts, at Fulford, James Cass and Ben Statters at Easingwold. David Hague is a junior who has come through the ranks and has progressed and got better and better. I hope that the Union has helped him on the way.

"At the Amateur Championship, James Cass was leading after the first round. There were some serious scores coming in from the juniors in treacherous weather conditions. We are hoping that the adult section will recognise the junior section more and that, instead of having a set team, they will get a chance to play for the senior side."

Union juniors have formed a key part of the Inter-District side that has gone unbeaten through its first two games and Statters believes the dedication from officials, targeted coaching and the generosity of professional players at many of the Union's 13 clubs has been responsible for their emergence.

He said: "Instead of seeing juniors as an after thought, they are the future of the Union - as they are of all golf clubs. The likes of Rory McIlroy and other young golfers winning Majors is helping us. Juniors see this and it is getting more popular.

"We have got excellent coaches. We have got the likes of Alastair Grindlay, Guy Wills, Michael Brooks, Ian Tailby and Graham Walker. They are all helping and they all do it free of charge. They give up their valuable time and we can't thank them enough.

"We don't have to really persuade them to do it. They are willing to do it for the Union. Most the coaches around here have come through the Union themselves. They have been through the junior ranks and the adult section as well. They are giving something back and we really appreciate it."

With only Simon Dyson and John Parry representing the region at European Tour level, and Chris Halley playing on the EuroPro Tour, the hunt is on for the next player who will reach the very top.

Statters believes there could be a couple of contenders. "David Hague is coming on very well and has just gone into the adult section," he said. "James Cass is another and they are both players who have the makings to progress. It's a tough world but they are achieving things. They have got the right attitude and the dedication to the game.

"It's an exciting time. I can see there is a lot of young talent coming through, which is promising. This is what we want. We want them to go through the system of junior to adult and Yorkshire level and beyond.

"We now have players as young as seven-years-old coming to coaching. All we want is dedication and concentration. We can tell which ones are listening and they are coming through very nicely."