NORTHCLIFFE golfer Jordan Clements is looking forward to his first full year as a professional, admitting that he felt now was the time to make the step up.

He has just turned 25, and while arguably his greatest achievement remains winning the Bradford Open at the age of 19, he knows he wasn’t ready to leave the amateur game at that stage.

Talking about making the move into the professional ranks, he said: “It’s obviously a big step, but I’d been playing amateur golf at the top level for a few years.

“My degree at university specified in golf, but I never wanted to turn professional at 20 or 21, as I’m a completely different person and golfer from what I was three or four years ago.

“I couldn’t turn professional ahead of last year, as it got pushed back due to Covid.

“But I just felt 24 or 25 was a good age to make the move, as I’m more mature now.

“It wasn’t a case of now or never, but I didn’t want to wait until I was 30, so it just felt like the right time.

“I officially turned professional in September 2021, and did a few qualifying events at the back end of last year.

“But this year, I get to start off on the 2020protour at the beginning of April, then I get underway on the EuroPro Tour at the end of May/start of June.”

Clements has joined another young Bradford Union talent in leaving the amateur game in Ben Rhodes, with the latter getting his maiden professional win in a 2020protour Winter Series event earlier this week.

But both have fond memories of amateur golf with the Bradford Union, and Clements said: “I was fortunate to play in the Union for a few years and I had a decent record.

“Winning the Bradford Open at 19 was a great achievement and I’m still extremely proud of it, and have got my picture up in the clubhouse at Northcliffe for it.

“I’ve been fortunate to get a couple of nice accolades over the last couple of years too, like a course record at Lindrick in South Yorkshire, and fifth place on the Yorkshire Order of Merit.”

Talking about Northcliffe, Clements enthused: “It’s a pleasure to be part of the club.

“It’s my 13th year at Northcliffe and they’re a tight knit, welcoming group.

“It’s super friendly there and quite laid-back, in the sense that you have people that want to do well, but also plenty who just want to enjoy their golf, drink a few beers and have a good weekend.

“It’s not snotty, I love it up there, and I’ll still be associated with the club even now I'm a pro.

“I won’t be playing week in, week out, but I’ll still get a few hours in up there, as well as a bit of work in the club shop, which I’ve done for a while.”

The Northcliffe bunch will be supporting Clements all the way on his professional journey, and asked what he hopes to gain from it, he said: “I’ve wanted to be professional my whole life.

“I’m knowledgeable about the sport, I enjoy it, and I don’t see myself doing anything else.

“It is a big jump from amateur to pro, but it almost puts you in a different mindset.

“I hope I’m successful, get some top 10s and make some good money.

“Making cuts is all good, but you can’t earn a living out of that, so you need to go out there with the attitude of wanting to win tournaments.”