ANXIOUS Jonathan Lupton has admitted he would be 'devastated' if he misses out on Walker Cup selection this week.

The squad for the 2003 Walker Cup at Ganton on September 6-7 will be announced on Sunday after the English Amateur Matchplay Championship at Leeds.

Brabazon Trophy champion Lupton, who could complete a historic double on Saturday at Alwoodley by being only the second Englishman in history to hold both English Amateur titles simultaneously, is a strong favourite to be included in a Great Britain and Ireland team bidding for a third successive win against their American counterparts.

He is currently second in the EGU/PING Order of Merit, 466 points behind leader Gary Wolstenholme, and a member of the England Elite squad.

However, the 24-year-old from Yarm is taking nothing for granted as he bids to influence the selectors' minds today by improving on his previous best performance in the English Amateur Matchplay championship when he lost to Simon Dyson in 1999 in the semi-finals at St Mellion.

And despite enjoying a successful year, Middlesbrough Brass Castle member Lupton admits it would be worth little if he were denied the chance of making his Walker Cup debut in September.

"This whole year has really been geared towards the Walker Cup," said Lupton, who tees off for his first-round clash with Michael Jones of Royal Liverpool - a close friend of Michael Owen - at 7.32 this morning.

"Unfortunately the Walker Cup selection is totally different to that of the Ryder Cup. The team is not taken from the Order of Merit so I am at the mercy of the committee, and I have been stung too many times by selectors to be over-confident."

He added: "I would be devastated if I wasn't selected - it's the only reason I stayed amateur for another year.

"Hopefully a good performance in the English this week will secure my place."

However, Lupton faces stiff competition in his bid to be crowned champion with 256 players vying for a place in Saturday's 36-hole final.

British Masters champion and Walker Cup veteran Gary Wolstenholme remains Lupton's biggest threat. The 42-year-old from Leicestershire has never won the English matchplay title; an amazing omission for a player that has dominated the amateur ranks for so long.

Wolstenholme, who begins his bid at 11.16am today against Craig Morrow (Ulverston), also has an extra incentive in that his late father Guy was crowned English champion in 1956 and 1959.

Another player hoping to push his own claim to a place in the Walker Cup squad is former Durham County champion Richard Walker.

Walker, who followed up his victory in the Portuguese Open by shooting a 36-hole course record 131 (11-under-par) to lift the Consett Open title, begins his challenge this morning against Alex Smith of Walsall.

Meanwhile, reigning champion Richard Finch will not start the defence of the title he won at Walton Heath last year until the following day when he faces an all-Yorkshire first round tie against Steven Uzzell (Ganstead Park) at 9.24 tomorrow morning.

One player who looks likely to just miss out on Walker Cup selection, Middlesbrough's Michael Skelton, also begins his bid tomorrow at 11.08am against Adam Scott of Reddish Vale.

Skelton has dropped down the Order of Merit rankings to tenth and has his work cut out convincing the selectors this week after not being included among the 16 top seeds.

Wearside's Daniel Hair begins his opening match with James Cookson of Whittington today at 7.40am.

* Cleveland's Jason Jones has followed up his early-season victory in the Cleveland Salver by winning the North Yorkshire and South Durham Strokeplay Championship.

Jones, a former professional who now plays off a handicap of +1, lifted the title after shooting rounds of 71 and 69 at Wynyard on Sunday July 20.

Consett Open, Consett (36 holes): 1st R Walker (Frodsham) - 66-65-134; 2nd G Clarke (Doncaster) - 68-66-134; S Philipson (Prudhoe) - 69-67-136; I Logue (Whickham) 65-72-137; N Bell (Carlisle) 65-73-138.

Teesside and District Union Division One: Seaton Carew 19, Eaglescliffe 5; Bishop Auckland 17, Castle Eden 7; Darlington 13, Teesside 11.

Division Two: Cleveland 9, Saltburn 15; Billingham 13, Middlesbrough 11; Richmond 22, Hunley Hall 2.

* Hartlepool golfer Graeme Storm finished a respectable 35th in the Golf Padova Terme Euganee International Open yesterday.

The Challenge Tour event was the perfect opportunity for the 25-year-old to build on his improving form and he did not disappoint.

Storm hit an impressive second round 66, six under par, on Friday to ensure he made the cut, but a level par 72 on Saturday meant he was always going to struggle to keep up with the leaders.

However, yesterday's 68 meant he finished halfway up the leaderboard.

Spaniard Ivo Giner lifted the title at Padova - earning his second victory in two weeks.

Giner, who won the Open des Volcans Challenge de France recently, finihshed with an incredible 29 under par, 259 total.