A FAST-rising Troon golfer is heading to South Africa later this month to develop his game through an innovative winter camp.

Thanks to the continued support from the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation, Scotland’s new look amateur squads journey to the warmer climes of South Africa this month to compete and build for the season ahead and Kilmarnock Barassie's Euan Walker will be there ,.

The competitive winter camp, which is also supported by national team sponsors Aberdeen Standard Investments, coupled with funding from sportscotland, will feature a group of female golfers for the first time, with nine players – including four teenagers - travelling to the Rainbow Nation to take part in the leading events on the South African amateur circuit

Scottish Golf has been a beneficiary of the Foundation for a number of years, with players such as European Tour members Connor Syme and Bradley Neil gaining valuable experience during their amateur careers, while a number of Scots have enjoyed success while competing against South Africa’s leading players.

“This trip provides a fantastic opportunity for our emerging young talent and we are indebted to the Alfred Dunhill Links and, in particular, Johann Rupert for making it possible,” said Stuart Clayton, Scottish Golf’s Performance Director.

Back-to-back Women’s Order of Merit winner Hannah McCook (Grantown on Spey) is joined by University of Stirling duo Gemma Batty and Chloe Goadby, as well as Aboyne teenager Shannon McWilliam.

Their schedule will feature three events from mid-February until the start of March – Border Championship, South African Women’s Masters and the Supersport Ladies Challenge – along with a friendly four-player team match against their South African counterparts.

The men’s group features three teenagers – Scottish Men’s Amateur champion Sam Locke (Stonehaven), Boys’ Order of Merit winner Darren Howie (Peebles) and Boys’ Stroke Play champion John Paterson (New Club, St Andrews) – along with Cawder’s Calum Fyfe, the Men’s Order of Merit victor, and Kilmarnock Barassie’s Euan Walker.

In 2012 at the Scottish Golf Awards, Euan received the Adam Hunter Award for the most improved and promising junior in Scotland. His progress has continued, domestically and notably during his college career in the US. Impressively, he was named 2015-16 SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year for Men’s golf, a feat he also achieved the following year. In 2017, Walker finished his US spell at the University of Missouri, playing alongside fellow Scot and freshman Rory Franssen in his final year. He went on to play in the Home Internationals and then won on a winter training camp in Morocco.

He won the West of Scotland Boys Match Play Championship in 2009 and Ayrshire Boys Stroke Play champion in 2012.