Golf: No hurry for Foster

MARK FOSTER, the new English amateur champion, will not be following his Worksop club-mate, Lee Westwood, into the professional ranks just yet. Westwood, 21, turned pro at the end of last season after winning the British youths title and has already earned more than pounds 90,000. But Foster is 19 today and plans to bide his time.

The former English boys champion and captain has still to make his full England debut, though that is now certain to come in the home internationals at Ashburnham in September.

Next year's Walker Cup will also be a target for the Nottinghamshire teenager, who was seven under par in beating Middlesex's Alan Johnson 8 and 7 in Saturday's final at Moortown. Foster left school two years ago to play golf full-time. 'Last year I decided to pick and choose what I played in and it didn't work at all. This year I've been working on my fitness and have played in everything. I think it has worked,' he said.

Hugh McKibbin, of Troon Welbeck, had a par on the third extra hole in the final of the J & B Scottish Amateur Championship to beat the Scottish international Alan Reid and lift the title at Renfrew on Saturday. In the longest final since the war, McKibbin clawed his way back from being four behind at one stage against the Kilmarnock Barassie player.

Craig Evans clinched the Welsh Amateur Championship for the first time at Royal Porthcawl on Saturday. The West Monmouthshire club player defeated Mark Smith, from Ross on Wye, 5 and 4 in the 36-hole final.