by Amanda Little

Last updated at 14:11, Friday, 06 July 2012

Cumbria star Kieran Waters has underlined his potential by winning an international call-up – with a bit of help from European Tour superstar Lee Westwood.

Kieran Waters

Waters has been selected for England schools for their match against Scotland at Hesketh Golf Club in Southport in September.

It caps an impressive year for the 18-year-old Carlisle golfer, who last week graduated from the Lee Westwood Golf School, where he was among the first intake of talented youngsters in 2010 after leaving Newman School.

From beginning the year playing off scratch, he has reduced his handicap to plus two and made an eye-catching start to his county golf career.

After being handed his Cumbria debut at the start of the season, Waters, whose dad Greg made 100 county appearances, has won all his singles matches and his foursomes contests alongside Nicky Bell.

He earned his selection for the 12-strong England schools team when he played for the North of England schools at Headingley Golf Club last month, finishing ninth with a two-over-par 73. He progressed to the 36-hole national final in Bristol, where he finished eighth with a two-over-par 144.

Waters hopes his England schools selection will be the perfect boost in his bid to win the English Amateur Championship, which will be staged at Silloth and Seascale Golf Clubs this month.

“Being called up for England schools is a big step forward, and I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.

“The standard in the English team is really good and I’m sure the Scottish team will be just as good. It will be a good chance to test myself against top young golfers.”

After winning the Cumbria Under-16 Championship in 2008, Waters has also proved to be a rising star at Carlisle Golf Club.

The 6ft 2in teenager became the youngest winner of the Bendle Trophy in 2009 and in the same year became the youngest finalist in the club championship.

He played for the county junior team for four years and had a key role in their 2010 Northern Federation Championship victory at Berwick Golf Club when he won two and halved one of his matches.

The Scotby youngster, whose late grandad Paddy Waters played 252 times for Carlisle United from 1950-57, has made an impressive transition to the men’s county team and will be part of the side that takes on Northumberland at Eden tomorrow.

Since leaving the Lee Westwood Golf School, Waters, who eventually hopes to make it to the European Tour, has been working part-time in his dad’s joinery business so he can play and practice. He will continue as an amateur for the rest of the year before deciding whether to turn professional next year.

His biggest goal for the year is the English Amateur Championship, where he hopes to catch the eye of England selectors.

“My main goal was getting my handicap low enough to play in the England Amateur,” he said.

“It will be a good opportunity to try to impress selectors. I just want to try to get my name known and try to get selected for England.”

First published at 14:08, Friday, 06 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk