IT’S amazing what can be crammed in to three months on the golfing circuit during a few months break from the classroom, before heading back to Colorado to further his education on fairways on the other side of the Atlantic.

Jack Ainscough was crowned Durham County champion during his time back in the North-East, and he packed in numerous appearances in some of the biggest amateur competitions around too; including his first British Amateur Championship outing.

While some of his finishes were not as strong as he would have liked, Ainscough has put it all down to experience as he gears himself up for a crack at the pro game when his four-year scholarship at Colorado State University ends in 2021.

“I came home, had a holiday, a nice little break, and then played a few events,” said Ainscough, from Shotton in Co. Durham. “I made it to the British Amateur in Dublin, that’s the biggest event I have played in. I made the cut, so top 64 out of 288 players, but was knocked out the next round.

“I played alright, the course was rock hard in the conditions. I then had the English Amateur, the weather was horrendous and missed the cut by two, and the draw was awful. I played in the Welsh Am just before I came home and finished tied 28th in windy conditions.”

He was also invited to play in his first professional event, at Linden Hall on the EuroPro Tour which Darlington’s Andrew Wilson won. It has been a summer of exploring and gaining valuable experience knowing what is around the corner after his college years.

When Ainscough finishes his degree in sports management at Colorado, he will be looking to put the last few years of dedication and hard work to the test.

The recently turned 20-year-old wakes up every morning, heads for the gym, goes for breakfast and hits the classroom. He then heads for another few hours practice until 8pm, as he looks to concentrate on improving his game.

Ainscough is already in the United States because of his glittering schoolboy CV. The former Dyke House College student, coached by Wynyard’s Andrew Nicholson and guided by Tour golfer Graeme Storm, was the youngest ever club champion at Hartlepool and was crowned the North of England Schools’ champion.

He also played for England Under-16s and Under-18s as well as securing numerous top five finishes in nationals, including his strong appearances at events such as the Douglas Johns and McGregor Trophy.

Such a CV helped him secure a brilliant offer from Colorado, a strong Rams team in Division One of the American circuit – and it is a different experience to over here.

“When I have was back in the summer I have played in wind and rain, hitting it low, while over here I’m playing at 5000ft altitude, so you have to shoot it sky high and hit the greens,” said Ainscough, speaking from the States where he is still overcoming jet-lag.

He is one of eight golfers at Colorado heading for qualifying on Thursday where five from Colorado will be selected for the first tournament in Georgia, the first of five before he heads back to the North-East to see his family and girlfriend for Christmas.

“We are a decent team, last year we made it to regionals, we missed out on nationals by a play-off,” he said. “Just to get in the team you have to play decent. I wanted that when I came out here. Some of the offers I could have had were 100 per cent scholarship, money, and straight in the team.”

He misses his cups of tea on a morning, something he has got used to being back over this summer to his parents. It was while he was at home that he won the Durham County title at Bishop Auckland by four shots after his four-round total of ten-under.

The Wynyard and Hartlepool member said: “Winning the County Championship is a good achievement. I wanted to turn up and I felt like I had a chance to win, and in the first two rounds I didn’t play that well. A win is a win, any win breeds confidence for the future. The more times you win the more comfortable you get and the better you become at doing it.”