Josh Berry receives wonderful 13th birthday present as England choose him to play Junior British Open

Doncaster's Josh Berry in his England Golf shirt.

DONCASTER'S Josh Berry, who turns 13 today, has been chosen to represent England Under-16s in the R&A's Junior British Open at St Andrews.

Past winners of the biennial event include new Masters champion Patrick Reed, who triumphed at Heswall in 2006.

Six years after its creation in 1994 the Junior Open Championship came under the R&A’s administrative umbrella.

All golfing nations affiliated to the R&A are invited to enter their best Under-16 boy and girl golfers, The event is closely linked to the Open and is always played on a nearby course.

Berry’s multiple successes include him becoming French Under-14 champion earlier this year, the first English player to win the Chantilly International Trophy in its 45-year history.

He followed that by making his debut for England Under-16s against the North West at Alwoodley, for the Sheffield Union scratch team, and for Yorkshire Under-18s.

In July he will fly to San Diego, California, for the IMG Academy Junior World Championships having won the Spanish qualifying event by no fewer than 20 shots.

It is only three years since he began playing golf and he made his mark immediately when, aged 10, he overhauled an eight-shot first-round deficit to win the 36-hole adidas British Wee Wonders championship on the Strathtyrum course, St Andrews.

Last year he won the title for an unprecedented second time, his 65 setting a course record that surpassed the previous efforts of Ryder Cup player Matt Fitzpatrick and the Sheffielder’s fellow European Tour winners Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood.