Oliver Farr in Euro golf event

Shropshire golfer Oliver Farr jets off to the European Team Championships this weekend hoping to strengthen his case for a Walker Cup spot.

Even though the amateur version of the Ryder Cup is still 15 months away, the race to book a place on the Great Britain & Ireland side to face the Americans is in full flow.

Farr would love nothing more than to receive the ultimate honour to be bestowed on an amateur by claiming his place in that team.

The first challenge will be to be part of the initial Walker Cup squad of 24 which will be announced in September and eventually be whittled down to 10.

And Farr is bang on course to be included in that original party after continuing his fine run of form.

Already the winner of two top amateur events in Wales, the 22-year-old finished fifth in the Brabazon Trophy - the English Amateur strokeplay championship which attracted a high-class field from around the world - at Hoylake last weekend.

Integral

And that result has provided a further boost to already high spirits ahead of next week's European Championships in Sweden, when Farr will be an integral part of the six-strong Welsh team.

"To finish fifth last week was pleasing because it is one of the really big tournaments of the year," said Farr.

"I was a bit disappointed not to push on over the last two rounds because I was well placed.

"But it shows that I'm in there competing with the top players in the top events.

"I worked hard on my game over the winter with a view to trying to win one of the really top events and I feel I have the chance now.

"The Walker Cup is a huge aim of mine and I will keep trying to give the selectors a nudge with results like I had at Hoylake."

Farr's exploits in the Brabazon Trophy mean he has stretched his lead to an almost unassailable margin at the top of the Welsh order of merit.

By JAMES GARRISON