YOUNG STAR NETS CORPORATE BACKING

Maxwell had already sunk three holes-in-one when he won the Young Star Award at the OCS Young Sports Person Awards in 2004, including one on a 131 yard hole at the HSBC Weewonders Open Golf Championship. But despite his precocious talent, it hasn't been plain sailing for the Birmingham lad. He's still too young for any sports funding, and all Max's training and competitions are being supported by his parents Ryan and Ann. So OCS has stepped in and offered Max a package that will carry him through until he is 12, and old enough to benefit from existing funding schemes.

The grant for Max amounts to £15,000 over three years, vital support if he is to realise his outstanding potential, as his father Ryan explains: "The funding will help dramatically towards Max's development as a great young golfer. Most of the world competitions at his level are held in the United States. Max has achieved three top ten places in the last eighteen months, and is looking forward to the US Kids Golf World Championships and World Cup at the US Open course at Pinehurst in August. The experience he gets from participating in the world competitions is priceless - it's where he learns his trade. It allows him to test himself against the best in the world, and it teaches him that, no matter what he faces, he must never give up. Every year he can't wait to get back."

OCS Chief Executive Chris Cracknell is delighted that the company will be supporting the young golfer: "OCS has always been strongly linked with outstanding young sports achievers. We have a great track record for identifying young sporting talent, and delivering support where it can really help. Max is one of the big successes of the OCS Young Sports Person Awards, and in this tenth anniversary year we decided to give him the backing he needs to take on the world."


It isn't the first time OCS has backed a young sporting star, as the company has previously helped support the careers of Surrey and England cricketer Mark Butcher and double European Tour Title-holder golfer Jamie Spence. This year also sees OCS marking a decade of their prestigious OCS Young Sports Person Awards, which have helped almost 100 talented young athletes, including Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle.