Armitage claims first tour victory

RISING-STAR Marcus Armitage has claimed his first outright win on The Players’ Tour with victory at Wychwood Park.

The 21-year-old former member at Oldham is enjoying a memorable first year as a professional.

Since November he has also had three joint-top finishes on The Players’ Tour and has claimed a top-five spot in seven tournaments.

Armitage, whose father Phillip is a market trader in Oldham, is also the leader of The Players’ School Order of Merit.

And the prize for winning the Merit is to have all his expenses paid for a tilt at this year’s European Tour School.

Armitage, who turned professional on his 21st birthday last July, is also the leading money winner on The Players’ Tour with £4,102.

“I am pleased with the way things have gone so far and it has been a great boost for my confidence,” he added.

Armitage, who played as an amateur for both Lancashire and Yorkshire after his move to Huddersfield, says it remains his burning ambition to play on the European Tour.

And failing that, he would like to play on the Challenge Tour which is one notch up on The Players’ Tour.

Armitage says he is indebted to Ian Beardsley, from IDB Scanning, who is paying the £2,500 entry fees for The Players’ Tour events.

“I am still looking for other sponsorship so I can enter the bigger competitions,” said Armitage, who is in action at Aldwoodley this week in the regional qualifier for the British Open.

In his latest success at Wychwood Park, Armitage shot 68 and 74 for a level par 142 and a one-shot win over Wrexham’s Tom Dykes in the 36-hole event.

He started his opening round with four successive birdies which laid the foundation for his victory.