SOUTHPORT golfer Tommy Fleetwood can add his name to the game’s roll of honour alongside Sir Nick Faldo, Paul Casey and Mark James.

The Formby Hall player matched their achievement in winning the English Amateur Championship.

He emerged from a ding-dong battle in yesterday’s 36-hole final at Little Aston with a one hole victory over Warren Harmston. But he had to show all his battling qualities after trailing by two holes with just seven to play.

A run of three birdies in four holes from the 12th turned the final.

“I was due a win in a national event,” said Fleetwood who makes his final appearance as an amateur in the Home Internationals this week. “I was shocked to be two down after 11 holes and it didn’t look promising. I hit good putts on the tenth and 11th but I wasn’t getting the run of the ball. But from then on my game turned round completely.”

Added Fleetwod, who came close to becoming the youngest winner of the Amateur Championship when losing in the final in 2008: “All I was thinking all the way round was I didn’t want to end my amateur career on a low. But I hit some good birdies and it all came right.”

The 19 years-old will now turn his attention to the game’s paid ranks, making his debut in the European Tour’s Èeladna Czech Open from August 19-22. Three weeks later he tees up in the Challenge Tour’s richest tournament, the Kazakhstan Open.

Fleetwood, who played a key role for England’s triumphant side at the European Amateur Team Championships, recently finished runner-up in the English Challenge, adding: “I really enjoyed playing the English Challenge and while I was obviously disappointed to lose by one shot in the end, I can still be proud of how well I played.

“I proved to myself that I can compete with the guys on the Challenge Tour, which has some of the best young players in the world, so the fact that I didn’t feel overawed gives me a lot of confidence for the future.”