Oliver Farr in golf's Walker Cup hopes

Shropshire's Oliver Farr has taken a major step towards securing the biggest accolade in amateur golf.

Welsh international Farr has been named in the initial 23-man Great Britain & Ireland squad to take on America in next year's Walker Cup, the amateur version of the Ryder Cup.

The 22-year-old from Ludlow is now anxious to produced some eye-catching displays over the coming months and earn a place in the 10-man team for the meeting with the Americans at Royal Aberdeen in Scotland next September.

The last Shropshire player to compete in the biennial event was David Park in 1997.

"One of my goals was to get into that first squad and it's fantastic to be in there," said a delighted Farr.

"I feel as though I have got as much chance as everyone else and it's up to me to perform well in the major amateur events next year to try and catch the eyes of the selectors.

"The main goal for the next 12 months will be to try and make the Walker Cup team and I will be putting the hours in over the winter to make sure I'm ready for when the big tournaments start again next year."

The squad will have their first meeting at Portmarnock in Ireland shortly before Christmas, when they are set to benefit from the advice of a three-times Major champion.

"We are told that Padraig Harrington may be coming up for a day or two so that's something to really look forward to," added Farr.

The Shropshire & Herefordshire first teamer has enjoyed a fine season, winning two big Welsh amateur titles in winning their national order of merit.

He also finished fifth in the Brabazon Trophy, the English strokeplay championship, and returned from Argentina yesterday after finishing 57th out of 210 in the individual event at the World Team Championships, where he notched his first competitive hole-in-one.

"That was a special moment," Farr added.

By JAMES GARRISON