Young Milton Keynes golfer Harry Whittle was selected to represent England in the R&A Junior Open, the tournament which precedes The Open itself where Milton Keynes-based Ian Poulter was runner-up.

Harry took on 67 other young stars from all over the globe in the most prestigious event in junior golf, with the 14-year-old going on to finish ninth.

Finishing as the leading home nation player, Harry shot scores of 76, 75 and 81 at the picturesque Hesketh Golf Club in Southport, home to the R&A's biennial 54-hole championship for under 16s.

The winner winner was 13- year-old girl Moriya Jutanugarn from Thailand.

This year, players from nearly 70 countries took part, including Bangladesh, Lebanon, Panama and Nicaragua, as well as the more established nations.

Competitors are nominated by their national governing bodies, some being chosen for recent records during competition and others qualifying by winning a specific selection event against their peers.

Either way, the quality of the field is invariably high, and in past years some major talents have graduated from the Junior Open to feature prominently in top-level golf.

Sergio Garcia played the event in 1994 as did Paula Creamer in 2002, just three years before she went on to become the youngest ever winner on the LPGA Tour.

Harry, who plays at Woburn Golf Club, finished the first day's play at the top of the field in fifth position on four-over 76.

And the former Scottish under 14 and British boys' under 15 champion kept up with the pace into the second day, despite making bogeys at four of the first five holes, before he settled in by birdieing the seventh.

He then went on to cover the remaining holes in par, his bogey at the 10th being cancelled out by a birdie at the 12th.

Father Ian said: "It's been Harry's ambition to turn pro for a while now. He's won a few competitions in the past but his performance here proved that he can compete with the best."