MARK Young is targeting a place in the England squad after winning the Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit for a second year in a row.

The Clitheroe builder believes he has laid the foundations for a call-up with some stunning performances this season which included helping Lancashire win their first grand slam since 1995.

Young, who plays at Longridge, won all his matches in the English County Finals at Hollinwell in September as the Red Rose men added the title to the Northern Championship and league honours already in the bag.

"I think the England selectors have probably heard of me by now," he said. "The rest of it is up to me because I must try to impress them in national tournaments.

"I've only played in one so far, the Lytham Trophy this year, because of work commitments but I've already decided to take more time off next season and enter as many as I can."

The 27-year-old plus two handicapper has not given any serious thought to turning professional.

He admitted it's something he would consider if the opportunity arose but first he is determined to advance his amateur career and see where it leads him.

"I've also given up football to concentrate wholly on golf," he added. Young won the Henriques Trophy at Hesketh early in the season then almost went off the radar for a couple of months as his form slipped.

But a five-minute video lesson from Paul Gavaghan, a professional at his home club, solved the problem.

Difference

 "He spotted I had no width in my swing and I've never looked back since I adjusted it," said Young.

"It was as simple as that and it's made a massive difference to my game."

He went on to win the Caldy Quart, Fairhaven Silver Pheasant and Childwall Trophy to overtake long-time merit leader Sam Stuart, from Chorley, and retain his title by 290 points.

Stuart, an England A squad member, finished runner-up for the second time in three years as his Lancashire team-mate James Robinson took third place 385 off the pace.

He won the opening two events, the Southport and Ainsdale Bowl at his home club and the Formby Hare then the Crosby Challenge Plate mid-season while Stuart enjoyed an early burst with victories in the Penwortham Rose Bowl, Hulbert Trophy at Manchester, the Calvert Trophy at Ashton and Lea then the Bromborough Bowl.

Young is only the third player to successfully defend the Northern Order of Merit since it was inaugurated in 1988.

Five-time winner Garry Boardman, from Castle Hawk, achieved it in 1992-93 as did Fairhaven's Karl Wallbank the following two years.

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