SUCCESS for young golfer James Morgan (pictured) is par for the course. The 17-year-old from Bettws Newydd, near Usk, has represented his country on a tour of the United States and with an average of just above level par no wonder he is on the shortlist for Young Sportsman Of The Year 2001 at the Newport Sports Awards tonight.

The Celtic Manor golfer is up against Newport County footballer Lewis Sommers, Newport boxer Matthew Edmonds and Newport Harriers Wales under-20 runner James Nasrat.

Centre-forward Sommers, 17, has won two Welsh under-19 international caps and is a product of the successful Newport County youth academy at Hartridge High School. He made several first-team appearances for the Exiles this season.

Edmonds, a boxer at St Joseph's Amateur Boxing Club, won the Welsh Youth Championship and for the third occasion running won silver at the four-nations youth championship.

Nasrat is East Wales and Welsh Colleges cross-country champion, East Wales under-20 champion at 200m and 800m and Welsh gold-medal holder at 800m. The 19-year-old was also the bronze medallist at the AAA Junior Championships and selected to represent Great Britain at the European Junior Championships.

For the Young Sportswoman Of the Year accolade is badminton starlet Robyn Ashworth, Newport athlete Lara Richards, Newport Ladies hockey star Gina Seddon and golfer Lauren Diggle.

Llanvaches-based Ashworth, 20, is a Welsh international and she will compete in the Commonwealth Games.

Newport Harriers long-jumper Richards is the Welsh indoor champion at under-20 level and the 17-year-old was second in the Welsh under-23 event. Seddon, 18, has represented South-East Wales Schools under-18 and skippered the South Wales under-18 team.

Celtic Manor golfer Diggle, 18, is the Monmouth Ladies County Champion, Junior County Champion, Gwent Schools winner and Celtic Manor Ladies Champion.

Gaer Allstars skaterhockey club's Laura Gardner, of which she was a founder member, and promising Newport cricketer Michael Clamden have been nominated for the Young Club Member of the Year.

Other highlights will be the Argus-sponsored Services to Sport award. European Indoor silver medallist Christian Malcolm, junior triathlete Anneliese Heard, Wales netball star Emma Blanks and Ryder Cup golfer Phillip Price will all battle it out for Sports Personalty of 2001.

Newport Rugby and the women and men's hockey teams will contest the Team of the Year award.