A RISING star in the world of golf has not been handicapped by his 6ft 3in tall-frame after winning a national competition at the tender age of 16.

Backwell School pupil Callum Hannay has become Under 18 National English Golf Champion at a competition at The Kendleshire golf club in Bristol.

Callum, from Yatton, uses clubs an inch longer than normal which have to be specially made and hopes to eventually turn professional.

He will now be up against a Scottish team in the England Schools International tournament at a club in Merseyside, in September.

Callum, who has just finished his GCSEs and will now study for four A levels, has been playing since he was five-years-old and joined Mendip Spring Golf Club in 2007, where he now has a handicap of one.

He recently won the Avon Schools and the South West Under-16 championships, as well as being runner-up in the Four Counties team event.

His golf teacher at Backwell School, Chris Budd, said: “This is a rare achievement and it’s the first time someone from an Avon school has won the national competition since the 1940s.

“I am very proud of him and the other two or three very good golfers I have taught in the last couple of years.”

Callum’s school friends and fellow golfers Jack Pring and Charlie Carpenter from year 11 and Noah Hessey, year 13, are due to compete in the team round of the English Schools championship today (Weds).