Rising golf star Louis Rickett is on the world rankings

Rising star Louis Rickett has earned his first World Amateur Golf Ranking after securing back-to-back titles in the Faldo Series, writes Dan Summerfield.

The Shrewsbury teenager topped a 57-player field at Macdonald Portal in Cheshire, following on from his victory at Brocket Hall the previous week, which secured his place at the series finals.

Starting the final day in fourth, Rickett responded with a bogey-free round of one under par, with five key par saves proving crucial.

"Getting a World Amateur Golf Ranking has been a major goal for me, so I'm incredibly proud to have achieved it this week," said the16-year-old. "To do it by winning back-to-back events is a really great feeling.

“Yesterday was a real battle in the wind, but I stayed patient today, made some crucial putts, and managed to get the job done."

Rickett will now look to carry his exceptional run of form into next week’s highly prestigious Welsh Men’s Amateur Championship.

Four Counties tournament

Shropshire & Herefordshire Under-18s came agonisingly close to Four Counties glory after a superb performance.

The 54th staging of the tournament saw S&H edged out in a tense final-round clash with hosts Nottinghamshire at Coxmoor Golf Club, having earlier beaten two-time defending champions Cheshire in the opening match 4-3.

That meant they finished level on points with Cheshire and Nottinghamshire, only to be denied the title on games difference.

They started the day with their impressive 4-3 win over Cheshire, thanks to points from Harry Slater, captain Zach Banks, Ben Steventon and Alfie Daniels.

S&H followed that up with a 5-2 victory over Lancashire - racing into a 3-1 lead with wins for Jack Dirkin, Banks and Steventon, before 14-year-old Louie Carroll and Brodie Miller saw them over the line.

They led 3-1 against Nottinghamshire in the finale through Banks, Salter and Steventon, but Notts fought back to level at 3-3 and a lip-out on the 17th from Miller saw them complete the turnaround.

Under-14s Stableford Cup

It took a brilliant effort from Shropshire & Herefordshire Under-14s captain Henry Gurney (Leominster) to win the Under-14s Stableford Cup.

A consistent round amassing 38 points was good enough to take the trophy, ahead of runner-up Jacob Child (Telford, 35 points), third-placed Ollie Evans (Leominster, 34 points) and fourth-placed Oliver Lambert (Wrekin, 34 points).