A GOLF champion who wrote off his car while drink-driving has been banned from the road for 14 months.

Liam Ball, one of Bolton Old Links Golf Club’s top sportsmen, smashed into a parked van and turned his car onto its side.

When police arrived and breathalysed him, Ball was found to be just over the legal limit for driving.

The professional golfer escaped the accident unhurt and managed to climb out of the passenger side before the emergency services arrived.

His £2,000 Renault Clio was written off in the crash.

The court heard Ball had swerved when he saw a white Mercedes “flying towards him”.

Howard Sloane, prosecuting, said: “He said he had swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle and hit a parked van.”

The accident happened just before 2am in Central Drive, Westhoughton, on December 5 last year. The road was wet at the time because of a recent hailstorm.

Ball had previously been out drinking with friends in Hindley.

The 22-year-old has to compete in seven tournaments per year — and the court heard he may have difficulty getting to them if he is banned from driving.

He yesterday pleaded guilty to drink driving at Bolton Crown Court and was banned for 14 months, given a £130 fine with £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Ball, of Windrush Drive, Westhoughton, was also offered the chance to take part in a drinkdriving rehabilitation course.

The police breath test showed he had 91 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath, just over the legal limit of 80.

Chairman of the bench Dr Derek Tate said: “It is by comparison a very low reading, but aggravated by the accident in which you were involved.”