Had it not been for his love of skateboarding, Adam Carter might have never discovered how good a golfer he is.

When the St. Bonaventure High senior was in sixth grade, he was heavily involved in skateboarding. So much so Carter he asked his father, Stephen, if he would build him a ramp in the family home's driveway so he could practice his tricks.

Carter's dad agreed to do it, but before he built the ramp he wanted both his sons, Adam and Ben, to give golf a serious try. At the time, Ben's main sport was basketball.

Wanting his ramp, Adam Carter agreed to give golf a shot.

Six years later, the ramp is a distant memory thanks to Carter's growing prowess on the golf course.

"We never got the ramp, but we did start taking advantage of the membership our family had at Spanish Hills," Carter said. "I started playing golf and discovered how fun it was.

"I like how difficult it is and how you can never be satisfied with golf. No matter how well you play, you can always improve."

It didn't take long for Carter to develop into one of the county's finest junior players. Next week he will put his skills on display for the world to see.

Carter leaves on Saturday for Scotland to take part in the 2007 Euro Junior Cup.

The triangular match-play event, to be played July 30-Aug. 3, features teams from the United States, Canada and Scotland.

The three teams will play rounds on Charleton, Crail and the Dukes golf courses, located in St. Andrews, Scotland, the birthplace of golf.

Last year Canada took home the trophy for the second consecutive year after coming from behind on the event's final day.

Carter was selected to play on the team by the International Junior Golf Tour after several top finishes on that tour this season.

Joining Carter on the Boys' 17-19 Division team are Zac Blair of Ogden, Utah, Austyn Karle of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Kyle Wheeler of Sparks, Nev.

The three-day event will have players compete in simultaneous singles matches against players from each of the other countries.

Carter said during his first IJGT event of the season at Sandpiper Golf Course he was checking tee times when he noticed the IJGT was going to award points for strong play this season in order to pick its team for the Euro Cup.

"I told my parents about it, but I forgot until they called me and told me I was picked for the team," Carter said. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity. It's a fun format, and it's cool to have USA on my golf bag and shirt.

"I'm excited about representing the United States. It would be nice to come home with the trophy."

To prepare for the links style of golf he will be encountering in Scotland, Carter said he may head over to the new Olivas Links Golf Course so he can work on his bump-and-run shots around the green.

If nothing, he said his practice sessions between now and leaving for the event will encompass hitting a wide range of shots designed to get Carter comfortable to play under any conditions.

Carter got in some extra competition last week when he took part in the American Junior Golf Association's Hanmi Bank Junior Open at Robinson Ranch Golf Course in Santa Clarita.

Carter didn't play as well as he had hoped, but he enjoyed playing against some of the top juniors on the West Coast.

"There's a lot more buzz around the VCJGA than a high school tournament," Carter said. "The atmosphere is so different. The events are so big."

Carter will be playing in one other AJGA event later this summer in Northern California. Besides enjoying the competition, the AJGA events help Carter get exposure when it comes to college recruiting. Carter is still looking around at colleges, but he knows he would like to stay in California.

A school high on his list is UC Santa Barbara.

At UCSB, he could play with former Oaks Christian standout Michael Casca, a friend from Spanish Hills.

He would also like to have his older brother Ben, who currently plays for Ventura College, go there as well.

"It would be a lot of fun if we could all play together," Carter said.

Having an older brother who is also a strong player has been a great help to Carter.

"It's good to have someone to practice with," Carter said of his brother. "I worked harder because of Ben being there. It makes it more fun to go out and play when you have someone to compete with."

Carter hopes to make golf his profession some day.

"That is all I see myself doing," Carter said. "But I know I have to keep improving and working if that is going to happen."