ORGANISERS have hailed this year's US Kids Golf European Championships a resounding success once again.

The event, which saw youngsters from all over the world caught the eye on East Lothian courses, was praised by Dan Van Horn, who founded US Kids Golf.

He told Courier Sport: "On behalf of U.S. Kids Golf and the 630 players and their families that took part in this year’s European Championship, I want to offer my deepest gratitude to the East Lothian community and everyone who served, volunteered, or helped in hundreds of different ways.

"The talent, the courses, the energy just seems to get better and better every year. We crowned some incredible champions and had the closest Van Horn Cup match in history.

"It was an amazing week. Most of all, I want to thank the many families I had the privilege to meet..”

There were some remarkable scores, too, with eagles and albatrosses across the youngsters' scorecards.

The opening day of the event saw albatrosses at Luffness New and The Glen. The final round was graced by a hole-in-one and a third albatross, also at the North Berwick venue.

Angus Klintworth (boys 15-18) made the first albatross of the tournament at the par-five 14th at Luffness New.

He took an aggressive line and set himself up nicely for a miraculous second shot into the rangy par 5.

His impressive shot was backed up by an interesting moment for a 12-year-old Frenchman at The Glen.

Augustine Valery thought he hit his second shot into the tall grass over the green on the par-five 15th.

After searching for a few minutes, he declared the ball lost and returned to hit another shot from the fairway, but as one of the other caddies went to tend the pin, he noticed a ball in the hole – it was Valery’s lost ball!

A quick check of the ruling later, and the youngster was able to mark his card with a two on the par-five.

Meanwhile, Canadian Hunter Thomson was on top form as he landed a hole in one at the fourth at The Glen, while Sean-Karl Dobson recorded the third albatross of the tournament on the 8th hole, securing a place at the awards ceremony.

Giovanni Manassero, younger brother of European Tour pro Matteo, took part in the Boys 9 age group

Matteo became the youngest-ever player to win a European Tour event at the age of 17, and now serves as an inspiration to all budding Italian golfers.

Giovanni said: “I watch him play a lot and I really try to concentrate when he says something because he has had so much success when he was young and that really inspires me.

“He is the reason I started playing. He is my inspiration.”

Founder Van Horn was also delighted to be involved with the formation of the Duncan McLean East Lothian Junior Golf Foundation.

The foundation has been set up in memory of former Gullane Golf Club member Duncan, who died earlier this year, just days after finding a brain tumour.

Van Horn added: "We were honoured to donate to the formation of the Duncan McLean East Lothian Junior Golf Foundation."