JOE Ferguson earned the perfect boost for his English Open Amateur Championships title shot next week.

The talented golfer won the Worcestershire Amateur Championships and helped Kidderminster take the team title.

Ferguson was in irresistible form at the Worcestershire Golf Club in Malvern Wells, firing rounds of 73 for his team as well as 71 and 70 individually.

It put him three under-par in the championship and two shots ahead of the up-and-coming Steven Lane, who was competing at his home course and ended up second.

Ferguson's 54-hole total of 214 also gave him the GD Carr Cup, while Lane lifted the Youth Championships and Philip Padmore accolade.

The Cleobury Mortimer man now heads off to the Open at Royal Birkdale, Southport, where he starts in the qualifiers on Monday. Ferguson, who plays off a plus-three handicap, also combined with scores of 72 and 74 respectively from Kidderminster team-mates Steven Clarke and James Toman to claim the Tomson-James Cup for 'A' teams.

Lane, Peter Lupino and Phil Dance, of The Worcestershire, finished second in the team event and Redditch third. Worcester Golf and Country Club were fourth.

The Worcestershire were champions in the Jubilee Shield for 'B' sides, thanks to Julian Bouchet, Philip Shurmer and Andy Dunster.

Other local Amateur Championship scores: Lupino (fourth, 146 gross over 36 holes); Simon Braithwaite (Bromsgrove, sixth, 148); Sam Watts (The Vale, eighth, 150); David Glover (Droitwich, 10th, 151); Bouchet (11th, 151); Gavin Bourne (Droitwich, 12th, 152); Paul Matthews (Worcester Golf & CC, 13th, 152); Kevin Barnes (Worcester, 14th, 152); David Baker (The Worcestershire, 15th, 152); Clarke (17th, 154); Thomas Pulling (Droitwich, 18th, 154); Thomas Hollis (Droitwich, 19th, 154); Anthony Ottway (Worcester, 21st, 155); Gary Downie (The Vale, 22nd, 155); Paul Yorke (The Worcestershire, 23rd, 155); Paul Scarrett (Blackwell, 24th, 155).