NORTH East Golf Professional Andrew Nicholson has scored a major success by helping one of his teaching charges land his first European Tour title.

Nicholson, who runs the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at The Wynyard club in the Tees Valley and is the Senior European Director of Instruction for the David Leadbetter Academies, has been coaching aspiring British talent Michael Hoey for six years.

Hoey, from Northern Ireland, landed his biggest title to date back in April when he triumphed at the Estoril Open de Portugal at Oitavos Dunes, Cascais.

Nicholson has established himself as one of the most renowned teachers and technical experts in world golf and in the last few years has found a new high-profile role as a BBC golf analyst.

The Middlesbrough lad is delighted with Hoey's success though admits neither of them will now be resting on their laurels.

Golf North East caught up with the triumphant duo training at Wynyard in preparation for the UK swing of the European Tour, including the PGA Championship, The European and Welsh opens.

Nicholson said: "What Michael has achieved is fantastic. We didn't expect the win to happen so quickly even though Michael has had a string of Top 15 finishes already this year. But we certainly won't be sitting back and thinking we've done all the hard work now, so it's definitely not time to relax."

Hoey first hooked up with Nicholson in 2003 when a close friend from Northern Ireland and fellow GB&I International, Robin Symes, was travelling over from Belfast to take tuition from the golfing guru Nicholson.

Hoey said: "Robin said I should come across and see Andrew because he didn't think there was anyone better. I'm glad I did. I was based in the Leeds area for a while and so it was easier to get up to see Andrew.