Triumph for Luke

Luke Cornford, pictured, overcame a raft of top names from the non-professional arena at the Tillman Trophy. The 19-year-old from St Leonards was beaten in a play-off by Robert Dinwiddie at Alwoodley Golf Club, Leeds.

Father Michael said: "It's definitely his best achievement and it's one of the best achievements by a Sussex player for some time. His game had been taking shape, but his expectations were to make the cut really."

But he did far more than that and rounds of 70, 69, 68 gave him a one stroke lead over Great Britain & Ireland's record Walker Cup points scorer Gary Wolstenholme going into the fourth and final round. Luke managed to preserve his advantage over Wolstenholme, who finished third, but his three stroke cushion over Dinwiddie evaporated after a 75.

The local ace, who parred the final hole of regulation play to force the play-off, eventually had to settle for the runners-up position courtesy of a bogey on the first extra hole. Luke admitted: "Part of me didn't want to be in the play-off and another part of me did, but to lose to someone of that calibre made up for finishing second."

Sponsorless Luke is also a regular in the Sussex team at senior and colts' level and was a reserve for this week's English Amateur Championship.

He is studying Applied Golf Management at the University of Birmingham, whom he helped finish runners-up in the UK University Championships.

Cooden Beach secretary Keith Wiley added: "It was remarkable really when you think of the number of players who went in for that in the first place. We were delighted for Luke and he could have a very good future. He's doing very well on the amateur circuit and the club is monitoring it very closely."

Luke, who lists his home club as East Sussex National, came second in last month's Club Championship at Cooden Beach.