James has won many junior competitions throughout his short career in golf and winning the u 12’s division of the Robert Rock European Masters at La Manga in 2025 was his main highlight.
This season he finished on a high winning the Nick Faldo’s Future Final at The Belfry in which over 4,500 juniors took part,
James qualified via rounds at Tytherington and Portal before progressing to the final and he will now compete in the 2027 World Junior Finals in California.
He followed this by recently winning the Robert Rock 2026 World WAGR series as u14 champion in the competition at Santa Elena in Spain.
At his home club of Stockport he has also won the prestigious Alan Tune Salver in the last two years.
One factor in James’ success was a decision in September by James and his parents to do his education via home schooling.
They decided that it would be more beneficial that he could incorporate more golfing hours alongside his schooling hours and with his recent win in Spain it seems to have paid dividends.
He has taken every opportunity to practice or play golf whether it be with friends, members of Stockport GC, charity golf events and society events and junior events at Stockport and Romiley.
He has dropped his handicap to 0.7 this year and his immediate aim is to get down to scratch.
James outlined his pathway in golf, which could be an inspiration to other junior golfers: “I began at 18 months old with a plastic club and ball and enjoyed hitting it around the house.
“My dad Jonathan, a keen golfer, then introduced me to golf at Romiley where I have played for several years before joining Stockport which is now my main club.
Stockport has practice facilities second to none and I have had great help and support from Valerie Garrett and professional Jamie Storey.
“I started with the Cheshire Development Squad at the age of 10 with Mark Johnson and then moved up to the u14 squad where I have been a regular member of the team and now I have been selected to train with the Cheshire u17 squad during the winter.
“I would like to give a big thank you to my coach Peter Barber, who I first met at the age of seven and he has been a positive influence in my golfing career.
“Many thanks also goes to Cheshire County Golf, from Mark Johnson and his Development squad, to Graham. Mike and Jim in the u14’s and the sterling work they do each week for Cheshire led by Andrew Henshall.
“I will be using the winter months and training with Cheshire u17’s learning more and putting this into practice each day.
“I will also be working on strength training and my short game.
“My long-term aim in golf is to become a European Tour Golf professional following in the footsteps of my golfing idol Rory McIlroy – just the way he swings the golf club and the power game he plays- and be at my happiest when on the golf course especially in competitions.”
Copy: Geoff Garnett