Keighley-born Billy Foster has been voted the overwhelming winner of the HSBC Caddy of the Year Award.

The former Holy Family School pupil, who is currently on the bag for Lee Westwood, capped a memorable season when he received the accolade during the World Golf Championship HSBC Champ-ions tournament in Shanghai.

Eldwick-based Foster (pictured) raised over £67,000 in July for The Darren Clarke Foundation and the Candlelighters Children’s Cancer Trust when he took on a marathon charity walk from Loch Lomond to Open venue Turnberry with a golf bag on his back.

He also helped Westwood – the current leader in the prestigious Race to Dubai – to his first title for more than two years last month in the Portugal Masters.

Foster, who has caddied for Clarke and Seve Ballesteros among others, said: “It’s great to receive this award.

“It shows a bit of respect for me from all the lads which is nice.

“I got a lot of nice feedback from the charity walk and Lee has also been playing great this year, which means you are always there in the public eye.

“A caddy is only as good as his player, remember.”

Westwood, who linked up with Foster this season following the Bingley St Ives member’s split from Sergio Garcia, said: “He’s caddied for a lot of good players, so he’s got a lot of experience.

“He’s been in the heat of the battle a lot and, even though he’s not caddied for me before this partnership started, he’s watched my game a lot over the years, having caddied for Darren, so it was almost like going to a caddie that already knew my game.”