OLAZABAL HAS HIGH HOPES FOR YOUNG COUNTRYMAN OTAEGUI

Things are looking up for winners of the British boys' open amateur championship.

There are still many more who do not go onwards and upwards in golf after taking the Under-18s' crown but Tom Lewis has not done too badly for himself since winning the British boys in 2009 and now, 19-year-old Spaniard, Adrian Otaegui, British boys championship winner at Kilmarnock Barassie last year, and Matthew Nixon from Lancashire, winner of the British boys title at Royal Aberdeen in 2006, are set to join predecessors Pablo Martin (2001) and Rhys Davies (2003) on the European Tour in 2012.

Both came through the recent Tour Q-School. For Otaegui it was his first attempt. 

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Having turned 19 on November 12, Adrian will be the second youngest card holder on tour next year behind Junior Ryder Cup partner and good friend Matteo Manassero from Italy. 

Ryder Cup skipper and Spanish "great" Jose Maria Olazabal has high hopes that Otaegui will quickly make a name for himself in the big league of pro golf.

"I know Adrian well and have trained with him on a quite few occasions. He is already a very good golfer, if still young and learning," said Olazabal.

"He is strong with his irons and has a fantastic short game. He is a really promising player, but still has to work hard, particularly to hit with more power off the tee, which in the modern game is vital."

Fluent in Spanish, French and English, Otaegui is originally from the Basque region of Spain but recently moved with his family to France.

His father Javier will continue to caddie for the youngster as he begins life on tour, with South Africa the likely destination for his 2012 debut.

"I am looking forward to playing the European Tour in 2012," said Otaegui. "I have learned a lot on the Challenge Tour this year since I turned professional. Tour School was great, but now the hard work begins in a couple of weeks."