FRESH from making promising strides in the British Amateur Championship, Robert Dinwiddie wants to follow up an encouraging display by forcing his way into the England reckoning.

Dinwiddie made it through to the fourth round at St Andrews after overcoming George Murray (Earlsferry Thistle) and Frenchman Julien Duclos-Grenet in the opening two match play rounds with 3&2 victories.

However, the Barnard Castle golfer was beaten by the same margin when he met Royal Aberdeen's Mark Halliday - ending any hopes he had of lifting the trophy Hartlepool's Graeme Storm won in 1999.

But four-handicapper Dinwiddie is full of confidence after his performance on the Old Course - where Stuart Wilson actually emerged as champion - and he is hoping to use the experience from north of the border to help his push for international honours.

"If somebody had told me beforehand that I would have made it to the last 16 of the British Amateur Championship I would have been pretty happy," said the 21-year-old, who is based in Tennessee, United States, for nine months of the year.

"But when I actually got to that position I'd be lying if I said thoughts of winning it hadn't come into my mind. I was pleased with the way I was playing and I thought I could do it.

"It was windy in the fourth round and that didn't help. I played consistently but in that round I didn't hit a birdie although I made par at all but one hole. Mark played really well all the way round and deserved it."

Dinwiddie is due back for new college term on August 30 when he will start his final year, of four, at Tennesse State University, Nashville.

But before he flies back across the Atlantic he wants to boost his reputation. "I feel that if I continue to show the same form in the next three big events then I think I should force my way into contention for a place in the England Elite squad," said Dinwiddie, who wants to do well in the St Andrews Links, the English Amateur as well as trying to qualify for The Open at Royal Troon.

"I'm enjoying it in America and I could stay over there once I have finished at University, I'll have to wait and see.

"When I finish I will then take a few months out to decide whether I'm going to turn professional or not - be it over here or over there. First, though, I just want to keep improving my game."

Middlesbrough's Michael Skelton lost out in the first matchplay round at St Andrews when he went down to Sean McTernan on the 19th hole. Ian Parnaby (Ramside) and Harrogate's John Parry dropped out at the stroke play stage after shooting 147 and 145 respectively.

* Durham have named the team to face Cheshire at Darlington Golf Club this Saturday.

Ian Parnaby, after the disappointment of missing out at the stroke play stage in the British Amateur, is included.

Team: Ian Parnaby (Ramside); James Harper (Seaton Carew); Mark Ridley (Consett); Steven Dance (Ramside); Graeme Marchbank (Durham City); Ricky Lee (Tyneside); Michael Curry (Brancepeth Castle); Michael Finley (South Moor); Bryan Ross (Heworth); Tom Maddison (Castle Eden); Jamie Birkbeck (Bishop Auckland); Danny Leighton (Darlington).

* Eaglescliffe's Graeme Bell carded a fantastic 66 in the Northern Rock North-East Masters Junior Pro-Am at Matfen Hall, Northumberland, on Sunday. Bell was not the only one to hit such a score, with Morpeth's David Clark and Fore Golf Discount's Mark Sheppard also achieving the feat.

* A super 68 from Colin Teasdale set Whickham on their way to victory in the Durham County Golf Union Clubs Championship Qualifiers at Beamish Park.

Teasdale, helped along by John Hutton's 72 and Ian Logue's 74, had his score matched by Ramside Hall golfer Ian Parnaby, while Bishop Auckland's Jamie Birkbeck shot a 69. The Durham Championship final will now be held on July 31.

The final results of the qualifier: 1st Whickham (214) C. Teasdale 68, J. Hutton 72, I. Logue 74; 2nd Billingham (218) P. Oakley 70, A. Allen 74, M.E. Lee 74; 3rd Bishop Auckland (219) G. Milne 73, J. Birkbeck 69, N. Dodd 77; 4th Beamish Park (220) A. Stewart 71, M. Rayson 74, C.R. Hewitt 75; 5th Consett (225) I. Johnson 77, M. Bonser 74, M. Ridley 74; Wearside (225) D. Vest 73, J. Goss 73, T. Peat 79; Ramside (225) I. Parnaby 68, D. Hair 75, G. Lowery 82; Durham City (225) G. Marchbank 75, A. Bell 75, R. Mason 75; 9th Barnard Castle (228) S. Wooldridge 81, J. Woodall 74, S. Melrose 73; Boldon (228) G. Nesbit 74, R. McAllister 80, M. McAllister 74; 11th Dinsdale Spa (229) I. Pattison 72, N. Sanderson 79, L. Cattermole 78; 12th Castle Eden (230) S. Brown 74, G. Border 74, P. Firth 82.

Published: 08/06/2004