Young guns ready to deliver

Shifnal's Richard Prophet and Ludlow's Oliver Farr will be donning the colours of their respective countries over the next three weeks.

And Ludlow 14-year-old Oliver Lewis is getting the ball rolling this weekend by travelling to Scotland to compete for Wales in a Home International junior event.

Prophet's first international recognition will come at the Junior Dutch Masters, which he flies out to compete in next week.

He will line up as part of a four-man England team, featuring two under 18s and two under 16s.

Farr, meanwhile, has made his way into the senior Welsh ranks in two events.

He will line up as part of a three-man team to play on the Algarve in the Portuguese Nations Cup next week, and has also been made first reserve for the Home Internationals in Ireland in mid-September.

"It's a big honour to be included in the senior team and I'm really looking forward to playing in Portugal," said the 19-year-old Farr.

"There are 20 three-man teams all from different countries so it will be one of the biggest events I have ever played in.

"I'm not expecting to play in the Home Internationals but to be in and around the squad is great.

"And if someone pulls out I will have to make sure I'm ready to step in and try and do a good job."

Farr warmed up for his big international date by making a stout defence of his Eden Trophy title at St Andrews.

Last year's winner carded rounds of 72 on the Eden Course and 71 on the New Course to be the best qualifier of the 220 competitors.

Despite a dip in form Farr registered three matchplay victories to reach the last eight, including a first round success over Telford's Gary Taylor 2&1

But his run came to an end in the quarter-finals, when he was beaten 2&1 by eventual winner Old Padeswood's Steve Brown.

Of the other Shropshire qualifiers, Patshull's Kris Williams also reached the last eight having finished 14th in the strokeplay stages.

Williams saw his run ended by Ben Taylor, of Walton Heath, 3&2 in the quarter finals.

Ludlow's Neill Smith, who qualified in 22nd, was beaten at the 19th hole by Alistair MacNaught of Colchester in the first round of the matchplay stages.

By James Garrison