By Amanda Little

Published at 11:48, Thursday, 02 October 2008

EXILED county golfer Neil Wilson is eyeing a recall to the Cumbria team after the most successful year of his amateur career.

Neil Wilson lines up a putt during the Cumbria Stroke Play Championship at Carlisle Golf Club JONATHAN BECKER

Wilson won the International Mid-Amateur Championship on his home course of Carlisle on Saturday.

The 34-year-old posted a two-round score of 141 for a one-shot victory over in-form Silloth golfer John Longcake, who won this summer’s British Mid-Amateur Championship. It was his third big club win of the year after he was crowned club champion in Carlisle’s centenary year and also won the President’s Medal Final.

Now he hopes he has done enough to put himself in the frame for a return to the county team next year after a two-year absence.

Wilson said: “I haven’t played for the county for a couple of year as I was working away in Newcastle so my golf went off the boil.

“Now I’m back working in Carlisle and it’s meant I’ve had more opportunity to practice as my game has picked up as a result.

“My aim would be to get back into the county team although it won’t be easy as there are a lot of good young lads coming through.

“It would be nice to at least get back into the squad and be considered but I'll have to see how things go.”

Wilson, who lives in Scotby, began the season in style by winning Carlisle’s 36-hole Bendall Trophy in May and it triggered a revival in his fortunes which has seen his handicap be reduced from two to one.

He won the Carlisle Club Championship for a second time two weeks ago by defeating junior Philip Davidson 8&6 in the final.

He then won the 36-hole President’s Medal with his total of 136, defeating Simon Pritchard by a single shot.

Wilson’s latest success came in Carlisle’s inaugural International Mid-Amateur Championship, which attracted a top quality field of 36 leading amateur golfers from all over the North and Scotland.

Longcake was six shots ahead of Wilson after the first round, after the Carlisle player posted a disappointing opening round of 73.

But an impressive second round score of 68, which included five birdies, put him on the road to victory and when Longcake bogeyed the final two holes, Wilson was crowed champion.

Club-mate Greg Waters finished two shots behind in third place in the event, organised by Carlisle members Nicky Bell and Martin Hand, which is expected to become an annual tournament.

Wilson said: “It was a strong field so I was delighted to win. The organisers are trying to get the tournament off the ground and make it a big event in the mid-amateur calendar.

“It’s the biggest competition I’ve won and it was great to play in.”

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk