IF there is one way to beat the awful weather on the courses across the North-East it’s to head for some fun in the sun – and that’s exactly what Andrew Wilson is doing in January.

Having already had five days in Spain with his fellow Northumbria University golfing scholars and Close House PGA pro Jonathan Lupton, Wilson is returning to Iberia on Sunday for almost a week.

This time, rather than to work on his game on the western side of Andalusia in the province of Huelva, the Darlington talent will be pulling on his England colours in the hope of starting the year in style.

“If you can’t get out and play some golf over here then you might as well head somewhere else and enjoy some better weather,” said Wilson, taking a break from his studies to talk when he had to hand in some work for his Masters in business and finance.

“I couldn’t believe it when I spoke to my mam from Spain last week and she told me it hadn’t stopped raining. It’s been like that since before Christmas, I remember trying to get a game in at Wynyard on December 23 and it was horrendous.”

It shouldn’t be too bad when he flies back out to Andalusia this weekend ahead of his first appearance for the England A team at the Costa Ballena International Quadrangular Tournament.

Wilson, from Darlington, will be one of six bidding to help England regain the trophy from January 20-22. The debutant will be joined by Ben Amor of Wiltshire, Will Enefer of Shropshire, Scott Gregory of Hampshire, Josh Hilleard of Somerset and Will Whiteoak of Yorkshire.

It is another sign of the plus-four handicapper’s progress and the recognition he has received, even though he accepts this could be his biggest year yet as an amateur golfer.

Wilson has another academic year left after this one at Northumbria Uni and by the time he leaves in 18 months’ time he intends to have put himself into contention for full England honours.

“I have been in the England squad a while now but I have had too much work on at Uni so I found it hard to make the get-togethers that the rest of the team were going to,” said Wilson.

“I feel I have had a chat with the coaches about my time-management because I have been too laid back about things in previous years. I think we have got to the bottom of that now, I stuck to that last year, so I am really looking to kick on this year.”

The 21-year-old was the runner-up in the North of England Youths last year and was tenth in the French Amateur Strokeplay Championship, which made the selectors sit up and take more notice.

But Wilson has his sights on full England colours sooner rather than later, knowing such a step is the next one he has to take as he looks to edge towards becoming a professional after leaving University next year.

“Having made it on to the England A squad I will be really miffed if I’m not in the England squad at some stage,” said Wilson. “I have been going away twice a year with England Golf for warm weather training, and we also go down to Woodhall Spa regularly for sessions.

“All the coaches know what I am capable of and it’s just about trying to improve. Hopefully by the time June, July, August time comes around my mind will be free of studies for the summer and I will be ready to concentrate on my golf.

“It’s great to start the year by going to Spain with the England A squad and then the focus will be on trying to qualify for the European Amateur Championship, events like that.

“If I can do well in those, and boost my world ranking again which is decent anyway, then I should be in the frame for the England squad in the Home Internationals.

“It’s an exciting year and one I’m looking forward to. Hopefully things will go well and then I can start to focus on Tour School, maybe turning pro if that goes well, in September next year.”