JAMES Ruth, Devon's talented 18-year-old from Tavistock, remains one of the most exciting youngsters in the country.

He has been chosen to play in the World Junior Golf Team Championship in Japan in June and will be joined by James Smith (Sundridge Park), Paul Waring (Bromborough), and Gary Boyd (Northamptonshire County).

The team of four is managed by Roy Chase. They travel to the Rosewood Golf Club, Hyogo, Japan for June 17-20.

James started the new season the way he finished the last by winning the Bernard Darwin Salver in the South of England youths championship at Rye.

He shot rounds of 73, 66, 68 and 69 to give his confidence a great boost. Last year he won the South West the Welsh youths.

Yet he remains a 'boy' in golfing terms and is looking forward to a big season.

His father Graham simply gets better with age he is 43. He won the Devon county trials at Saunton and now plays off plus 1.4.

He finished second in the Portuguese Mid-Amateur at Penga Longa and will play in all county events this year.

l Devon beat Cornwall 11-7 in a 12-a-side friendly match at Bowood. Captain Mark Evans had a chance to assess some of the fringe players.

Graham Ruth (Tavistock) continued his impressive form. He and Danny Vanstone (RND) beat Walker Cup player Philip Rowe and Jon Coleman 2/1 in the foursomes. Then, veteran Ruth achieved another win over Rowe in the singles by the same score.

Danny Vanstone, Ross Whitelock (Staddon Heights) Andy Woolnough (Teignmouth) and Lester Barnes (Churston) also won both their foursomes and singles.