South of England Amateur Championship won by Will Shucksmith

Yorkshire amateur Will Shucksmith had the week of his life to date when he won the South of England Amateur Championship at Walton Heath.

Not only did the 27-year old golfer take this prestigious title - ranked number three in Europe in strokeplay importance by The R&A - but he learned that he had successfully qualified as an accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

"I've not been able to play as much top level golf as I'd have liked in recent times because of my studies but this double success has made it all worthwhile. I am absolutely thrilled," said Shucksmith who was the 2005 British Universities champion.

Top 100 courses: Walton Heath

He took the Michael Lunt trophy when he won the first play-off hole against Dutchman Robin Kind. Played over the opening 240-yard par 3 of The Old Course, Shucksmith's par was good enough after his opponent drove into a greenside bunker.

The former Yorkshire Boys and Mens champion is now back to his best-ever handicap of plus four and plans to reignite his amateur career. "I'm going to give it my best shot. I'd love to aim for a Walker Cup place and if everything went really well then, yes, I'd consider turning professional."

This is the seventh consecutive year the SoE Championship has been played at the famed Surrey heathland club and the second time Shucksmith has competed. "I also played in 2006 shortly after I graduated," he said. "I didn't do so quite as well then, injuring my wrist playing out of the heather and retiring hurt after just ten holes."

Leading scores:

283 Will Shucksmith 68-70-71-74 (won after play-off); Robin Kind (The Netherlands) 72-70-67-74 284 Jerome Titlow (The London Club) 67-73-71-73 285 Jamie Rutherford (Knebworth) 70-73-71-71 286 James Frazer (Pennard) 69-73-75-69; Ben Longbray (Wrag Barn) 70-73-70-73 287 Ryan Evans (Wellingborough) 68-76-73-70

Copy courtesy of Walton Heath Golf Club