BURY teenager James Bolton is in an eight-strong contingent of regional players heading for Brazil this weekend to battle for glory in the Faldo Junior Series World Final.

But most of them are leaving their proud mums and dads behind because they can't afford the trip of a lifetime.

The final was originally pencilled in for Welsh resort Celtic Manor but Nick Faldo, who captained the European team which lost the Ryder Cup in Kentucky last month, switched it at the end of July to Costa Do Sauipe in north east Brazil.

And that was too short notice for parents to save up.

Tony Bolton, whose 15-year-old son is a member at Harwood and Formby, said: "I could not travel because I have a heart condition. My wife Lynne wanted to go but it would have cost her at least £2,000 for six days which was unrealistic."

Elton High School pupil James, the Lancashire U15 champion added: "I'm excited about the tournament but I would have liked my mum to have been there."

Bolton champion Andy Palmer, 19, who is a Chorley member, will also miss his parents.

"If we had known earlier in the year we could have budgeted for it," said dad Tony. He'd hoped to have made with trip with his wife Christine but added: "It was too expensive even just for me.

"I can understand Faldo wanting to take the final to a warmer country at this time of the year but I think Portugal or Spain would have been better for everyone. They could have arranged a package deal for us."

Poulton Park's Luke Burrows, also 19, will be cheered on by his dad Chris who was determined to go but after dropping his son off at Heathrow on at 3.30am on Saturday he will then drive to Gatwick to his catch his 13-hour flight later in the morning.

"He can't travel with Luke because the seats were all executive class and too expensive," said his wife Donna.

Macclesfield's Megan Burgess, the Derbyshire Girls' champion and champion at her club Cavendish, should have been travelling to New York after her parents paid for the trip as an 18th birthday present.

"My mum's going instead with some of her friends and I'm off to Brazil on my own," he said. "I'm disappointed my parents can't be with me but I'll enjoy the experience."