AMATEUR Champion Scott Gregory has pledged to work even harder in 2017 and hopes to inspire the next generation of golfers growing up in Hampshire (writes Andrew Griffin).

His last official England engagement before Christmas prevented the 22-year-old from collecting Hampshire’s prestigious John Nettell Trophy for the second time, in person.

The England Order of Merit winner was chosen for the honour – just as he was in 2014 – for his outstanding contribution to amateur golf in the county, having become the first Hampshire-born golfer to win the Amateur Championship in 132 years.

Gregory wrote a personal letter to Hampshire Golf president John Moore, from Blackmoor GC, which was read out to club representatives at the Hampshire Golf AGM, held at Brokenhurst Manor.

He wrote: “I have had a great year on the course and it is an honour to have that recognised by the Hampshire Golf union.

“I want to thank all the people within Hampshire Golf who have helped me get to this level. From Bruce Willard, for starting me off in zone training, to the coaches I had in John Hay and David Hickman at Waterlooville GC, Simon Tillson, Malcolm Scott, Neil Grist, Gary Stubbington, Gary Smith, Peter Dawson, Rob Watts, and my own coach Simon Andrews.”

He also thanked John Moore, who has overseen junior golf in the county over the past four years, and his predecessor Alan Bailey, as well as colts managers Neil Dawson, Steve Williams, Richard Elmes and current incumbent Martin Young.

Gregory added: “All these people, coaches and volunteers have helped me along the way and have made Hampshire a force to be reckoned with.

“Winning the British Amateur was obviously a great tournament to have won, but I understand that it is what I do with the opportunities I get from it that count.

“That is what is motivating me to work even harder than before. I hope that I can inspire other Hampshire golfers – juniors, men, seniors, girls and ladies – to achieve similar things.”

Despite a schedule that will see him tee up in the Masters and the US Open, as well as hopefully make a second appearance in The Open, plus another trip to the US Amateur before the Walker Cup, Gregory has not given up hope of making one more appearance in Hampshire colours.

“I want to be part of the team that beats Surrey in August to win the South-East League,” he declared.

As well as reaching the English Amateur final in his first full year as an established member of the county first team, he reached the final of the 2016 Spanish Amateur, made his England debut against France at Formby in May, and played for Great Britain & Ireland for the first time in the win over Continental Europe at Prince’s.

The amateur golfer ranked number 6 in the world became just the second Hampshire player to represent England in the Eisenhower Trophy in Mexico last September.

Gregory is now in Australia where he is competing in the top four amateur events during January.