TAVISTOCK junior golf star James Ruth, now ranked one of the top four junior players in the country, has his sights set on South Africa, after winning the South West Boys? Championship held at Yelverton Golf Club recently.
James finished the 36-hole event with two wonderful rounds of 66 and 64. His success qualifies him for the Daily Telegraph World Junior Championships, the finals of which will be held in Sun City, South Africa in October.
James, 18, said he was delighted with the way he played at Yelverton.
?I knew I had to shoot about five or six under, which I did. I was very happy, and very pleased to have won the event by 19 shots,? said James, whose handicap has now been slashed to plus three.
James? golfing talent has already qualified him to represent England at the World Boys? Championships in Japan in June this year, when the team came 12th.
His trip to Sun City will be his most important individual event to date, for which he is lying in second place among the qualifiers. His current form certainly ranks him as a serious contender for the final.
?I had a 60, which is eleven under par, at Tavistock last week, which is the best I?ve ever played,? said James, whose ultimate aim is to turn professional.
?I?m just going to keep playing the amateur circuit for the next year. I?ve had a few offers from universities in the States but I?m not sure I?ll take them up yet,? he said. James is due to play in the county championship finals in Liverpool shortly.
James started playing golf at Tavistock at the tender age of four. This will be his last year as a junior golf player