NEWLY-crowned Southern professional champion Kevin Saunders has joined the Dibden Golf Centre as their new teaching and tournament professional.

The man from New Milton will combine his new teaching responsibilities with a busy tournament schedule that will see him represent the popular Waterside course in both local and regional PGA tournaments.

He will be working for John Slade and Paul Smith, who jointly run the Dibden Golf Centre.

Saunders enjoyed a distinguished amateur career as a member of Barton-on-Sea.

He continued to represent the club after turning professional in 1993.

As well as competing in Hampshire and South Region PGA events he also had a season on the European PGA Challenge Tour.

His reputation as one of the county's leading players was further enhanced last year when he won the Waltham Contractors Order of Merit title for the first time.

The appointment is a major coup for the New Forest District Council's Dibden Golf Centre, which first opened in 1975.

Over the last 25 years continuing investment in the complex has established it as one of the leading municipal courses in the area.

And the course's conference and catering facilities have also proved very popular.