YOUNG Tiverton golfers Harry Konig and Rhys Cruse both picked up runner-up prizes in the 2014 Express and Echo Sports Awards.

The pair were among the four finalists shortlisted in the Amateur Sports Personality of the Year category.

Cruse and Konig were unable to attend the awards dinner at the Rougemont Hotel in Exeter on Wednesday as they are currently in Portugal playing on the Algarve Winter Tour.

Their families were on hand to collect their prizes – framed, mocked-up newspaper front covers celebrating their own achievements throughout the year.

The amateur award went to Jason Tarr, a coach and welfare officer of Exe-Calibre Dragon Boat Club who won European and World Championship gold in 2013.

Konig and Cruse are products of Tiverton’s highly successful junior set-up and in 2013 became the first two male golfers in years to reach a scratch handicap at the club.

Cruse, of Cullompton, capped an excellent 12 months by hitting the landmark in July.

He finished fifth in the Devon Amateur Championship at Yelverton, picking up the Wish Slater Salver for the lowest two rounds on the final day, and represented the county B side.

The 22-year-old also won Tiverton’s club championship for the first time and lifted the Blundell’s Trophy and Tommy Tucker Scratch Cup Konig, of Uffculme, got to scratch by virtue of winning the December Medal at Royal North Devon.

Tiverton’s junior club champion made his international debut for English Schools against Scotland in September.

Earlier the 19-year-old finished third in the South-West schools championships at Wells and then fifth in the English Schools national championships in Nottinghamshire.

Konig and Cruse are studying for a foundation degree in tournament golf performance at Tournament Golf College.

They finished the first semester at St Mellion in Cornwall before Christmas and are now continuing their golfing education at the Amendoeira Golf Resort in Portugal.

The duo are competing on the Algarve Winter Tour on the Faldo and O’Connor courses, alongside Portuguese and Spanish PGA professionals and members of the senior golf circuit.

They have both been selected for the Devon men’s coaching squad this year.

Richard Southward posted 36 points to win the men’s February Midweek Stableford at Tiverton.

The 25-handicapper topped Division Two ahead of Les Neville (33), Chris Hill (33) and David Webber (32).

Steve Garland claimed the Division One prize in front of Roger Fetherston (32), Dave Simpson (31) and Ken Nicholas (31).

Youngster Bethany Baker carded 34 points to win the ladies' February Stableford on Wednesday. The 18-handicapper edged out Jo Lloyd-Davies on a countback in the Silver Division.

Marg Sampson took the Bronze Division prize with 29, beating Carol Clarke by two.