LEADING ENGLISH YOUNGSTERS LINE-UP FOR REID TROPHY

The cream of England's young golfers will line-up in the English Boys Under-14 Strokeplay Championship for the Reid Trophy at North Wilts Golf Club on 16-17 August.

A total of 90 youngsters, some of whom will prove to be the internationals of tomorrow, will compete in three-ball matches starting at 8am on both days.

Many of the boys have low handicaps despite their tender years and the Reid Trophy offers a stepping stone to EGU regional coaching, a first foot on the ladder to greater things.

The entrant with the lowest handicap is Adam Hinkins from Chiltern Forest, who plays off four, while five handicapper Tom Chambers is from the Coxmoor club that has produced several recent boy internationals, among them Oliver Wilson and Christian Smith.

Tom Oliver (Radcliffe on Trent) is only 13 but is the Nottinghamshire under 14 and under 16 champion. He has a handicap of five, while Charles Simpson (Newquay), is the son of former Curtis Cup golfer Linda Moore.

Another offspring is Gary McLure (Whickham), the son of Tony McLure, the greenkeeper at Whickham and a former winner of the Lytham Trophy and the Northern Masters, while Scott Connor is the son of Brian Connor, the professional at Manchester Golf Club.

The tournament has been given an international flavour this year as Holland and Portugal are sending several youngsters to compete.

The leading six players in the Championship will gain automatic exemption to next year's McGregor Trophy, the England Boys' Under 16 Championship.