Dean Robertson, winner of the Italian Open in 1999, plans to launch a Scottish Junior Golf Tour having secured title sponsorship for his idea.

Robertson, whose European Tour career was halted by ill-health five years ago, divides his time between playing on the Scottish circuit and coaching under-14s after having started a search to identify the country's most promising young players 10 months ago.

Mathon, one of the UK's leading asset-based lending companies, has committed to a three-year deal worth £50,000.

Robertson, who created a new non-profit making teaching set-up for under-14s in October, in conjunction with fellow coaches Steven Orr and Kendal McWade, is working at developing the talents of 30 youngsters, age six to 14.

A dozen of the trio's more advanced pupils attended a four-hour coaching session at Carnoustie last Wednesday, August 13, followed by 18 holes on the Buddon Links Course.

Robertson believes their development will be aided by playing regular competitive golf on the smallest of the courses at Carnoustie, Turnberry, Troon and Gullane.

"The Tour will launch at the end of this month and continue until May," he said. "It is aimed at the under-14s and getting the support of Mathon and several leading golf clubs is a step forward.

"As well as catering for their styles and identifying talent, we are also keen to ensure that the kids have fun. The group we are working with are quite advanced and we have had some impressive results.

"However, two of our group finished in the top five in the European under-12s youth championship at Craigielaw in May, and our kids took the first four places in the Scottish under-12s championship at North Berwick last month."