A 17-YEAR-OLD golf champion from Droitwich Spa is preparing to take on the best of British next week as he bids to become the country's top club golfer.

Tom Hollis, reigning club champion at Droitwich Spa Golf Club, in Ford Lane, journeys to Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire for 36 holes against 51 fellow club champions.

Hollis, who plays off a two handicap, will play 36 holes on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 27 and 28.

The Bromsgrove resident qualified for the event by winning the Droitwich club championship last September and another event at Celti Manor in Wales.

He said: "I can't wait and I am hoping to do well. The lowest handicap is one and the highest is four so I am in the middle."

Tom, of Dovecote Road, has been playing golf since he was ten-years-old and, although he admires Tiger Woods, he aims to emulate the rise to fame of Sergio Garcia.

And he is already through to the semi-final in the defence of his Droitwich club crown this time around.

Tom added: "I would really like to go professional. I want to keep playing golf as far as I can and get my handicap down. I looked up to Sergio Garcia as a youngster."

Hollis has just come back from an event in Scotland where he got the opportunity to play on the famous St Andrew's course.

"I was overwhelmed at the thought I was on the course," Tom added.

The champion of champions event is rapidly establishing itself on the amateur calendar as a major tournament for the elite of the amateur ranks.

The competition is a joint venture between Jameson Irish Whiskey and Golf World Magazine.

The final is shaping up to be of the highest quality as the 51 amateur players challenge to become the UK's Best Club Golfer and the title of Golf World-Jameson Champion of Champions.

The guest of honour at the event's gala dinner next week will be former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher OBE.