Telford's Jamie Brittain on course to join old team-mates
An up-and-coming Shropshire golfer is aiming to follow in the footsteps of his successful former team-mates after qualifying for a prestigious nationwide tour.
Telford's Jamie Brittain has qualified for the main Europro Tour for this year after coming through from a final qualifying event held at Frilford Heath Golf Club in Oxfordshire.
The 24-year-old, who lives in Wellington and teaches at Horsehay Village Golf Centre and Wrekin Golf Club, is now eligible for all 15 Europro Tour events this summer as he looks to emulate the success of his former Shropshire Juniors team-mates Oliver Farr and Ashley Chesters.
Farr is now a regular on the main European Tour after progressing through the Europro Tour and the European Challenge Tour.
Chesters is the reigning European Amateur Champion and is considering whether to join the ranks of the professionals.
"There are a lot of 'satellite tours' across the country," said Brittain.
"But the Europro tour is the only one that offers a qualifying school and gives the chance of progression onto the European Tour.
"The fact that Ollie Farr was on the Europro Tour for two years and is now on the European Tour shows what can be done.
"There are quite a few players who have gone from the Europro tour onto the European Challenge Tour and ended up on the main European Tour.
"So hopefully I'll be speaking in a couple of years time about the same thing."
Martin Sell of Wiltshire won the qualifying school in Oxfordshire by two strokes from Scotland's Michael Stewart after recording a 54-hole score of 14 under par.
A final-round 70, two under, consolidated his first-round 65 and second-round 67 to see Sell, of Wrag Barn Golf Club, retain the grip he had taken on the leaderboard from the opening morning.
Sell had set the pace from the off by coming home in just 29 shots to sign for a seven under.
Brittain finished 10 shots off the lead, but successive two-under-par scores of 70 in rounds one and two saw him make the cut comfortably.
His level-par effort in the third and final round secured a share of 31st place overall and one of the 50 Europro tour spots available.
The tour starts at Celtic Manor in Wales on May 13 and the 15 events include one at Hawkstone Park near Shrewsbury from July 22-24.
