Brokenhurst Manor’s Martin Young will be the only Hampshire representative in the last 32 of the English Amateur Championship.

Young blew away Staffordshire’s Ryan Cornfield 4&3 in the opening round of the match play stages at Frilford Heath today.

The 43-year-old, who has played at the top level of the amateur game for more than 20 years, will face Hertfordshire’s Tomasz Anderson tomorrow for a place in the last 16.

“All I can do is keep playing how I’m playing and see how it goes,” said Young. “I’m playing nicely at the moment.”

As well as his form, Young has history on his side this week. The last time the English Amateur was held at Frilford Heath, in 1987, it was won by another Brokenhurst player, Kevin Weeks.

“It would be nice to back up Kevin’s winning effort for Brok,” said Young. “I’ve got as much chance as anyone. I’ve just got to keep it on the golf course and make a few putts.”

Hampshire’s two other representatives who made it through the stroke play qualifying rounds suffered narrow defeats.

County colts player Ben Wall, of Hayling, nearly caused a major upset against Yorkshire’s Matthew Fitzpatrick, who won the silver medal for the top amateur at this year’s Open Championship.

Wall ran Fitzpatrick close, but was edged out 2&1.

There was an even more agonising defeat for Rowlands Castle’s Billy McKenzie, who lost at the 19th hole to Lincolnshire’s Nick Watson.