JAMES Robinson was today celebrating the biggest win of his burgeoning career after becoming the first Lancastrian to capture the Lytham Trophy, one of amateur golf's four majors, for nearly a quarter of a century.
And the 20-year-old, from Billinge, who held off an international field to claim the title by a shot after a nerve-wracking finish, is hoping the watching Walker Cup selectors will have marked his card.
"It would be a dream to be picked for the squad," said the Southport and Ainsdale member.
"It will be up to me to take the form to the British Amateur at Formby next month to give myself a chance. And that will be like playing in my back garden."
Robinson was beaten in the English Amateur Championship two years ago but his performance earned him a place in the national set-up, although he has yet to earn his first cap.
That honour won't be far away after finishing on seven-over-par for the four rounds at the tough Royal Lytham and St Annes links ahead of Welshman Benjamin Westgate whose countryman Ben Enoch was killed in a car accident on his way to the tournament last Thursday.
There's not been a regional winner since Mike Walls, from Hillside, in 1985 but Robinson's success was further proof of strength of Lancashire golf following David Corsby's triumph in the West of Ireland Amateur Championship two weeks ago.
And he attributed part of his success to Monton-born Adrian Fryer, his coach at Warrington Drivetime.
Blazer
"I'd been struggling a bit and he put my swing on to a better plane," he said.
"I played solid all day and did not make many mistakes," he added after coolly pitching out of the rough to six feet to save his par on the last hole. But he had an anxious wait as Walker Cup cert Dale Whitnell kept on his tail until be bogeyed the relatively easy 16th hole to slip back into the pack.
Robinson also revealed that he took the advice from his dad Lindsay, his caddie, and mum Elizabeth to leave his blazer at home because he had never won anything in the past when he took it to an event.
"It's just as well I did not have to get changed for the presentation," he quipped.
In the best finish by regional players for years, Heysham's Jack Senior tied third and county champion Tommy Fleetwood, from Formby Hall, was also in the top 10. |
James Robinson the Gathurst and Southport and Ainsdale ace captured the biggest victory of his top-flight amateur career by winning the prized Lytham Trophy, which is widely regarded as one of the four Major Amateur titles.