ARRAN Velton took his first step towards a dream trip to the United States after winning the Blackburn Junior Open.

The 18-handicapper, who plays at Dean Wood, fired a round of 80 to win the tournament with a nett 62, which was one stroke better than Pleasington's Jack Wilson.

Preston's Lee Herbert won the prize for best gross with a round of 71 - four shots ahead of Hillside's Andrew Molloy.

Velton's score will now be entered onto the leaderboard in the Daily Telegraph/Centre Parcs Junior Golf Championships.

Qualifying rounds like the one at Blackburn are currently taking place at clubs across the country.

And the top 21 players on the final leaderboard will be whisked off to the grand final at Ocean Forest Golf Club, home of the 2001 Walker Cup, on Sea Island, Georgia, USA, later in the summer.

Roger Hetherington of competition sponsors Barclays Bank makes the presentation to, from left: Jack Wilson (second nett), Michael Hardman (captain), Arran Velton (winner), Andrew Molloy (second gross), and Lee Herbert (best gross).

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