YORKSHIREMAN Dan Brown got a congratulatory message from Danny Willett after following in the footsteps of the Masters champion to win the English Amateur Championship.

Brown, from Masham Golf Club and formerly of Bedale, has now been rewarded for his brilliance at Ganton with a call-up for his country to play in the Home Internationals.

The 21-year-old will be part of an 11-strong England side at Nairn on August 10-12 when they will look to claim the title which they last won in 2013 at Ganton.

He has already earned international recognition courtesy of his excellent performances and rise to prominence. This year he has also reached the match play stages of both the British Amateur and Spanish championships and had top 20 finishes in the Brabazon Trophy and the Italian international.

His quality was on display at Ganton last week when he staged a tremendous fightback to win the men’s English crown in an exciting final when he was four down after 26 holes against his good friend, George Bloor (Derbyshire).

In the end he turned things around remarkably to claim a 2up victory and Brown soon heard from Willett, the 2016 Masters champion who won the same English title in in 2007.

Willett, a fellow Yorkshireman, sent a message to the presentation, it read: “I can remember the feelings you’re experiencing and your family and friends will rightly be very proud of you. You’re obviously on the right track so keep doing what you’re doing, be smart and effective with your practice and who knows how far you can go?”

Brown had been telling anyone who would listen he was feeling good and that a top prize was on the agenda this year.

He said: “I’ve been playing really well but haven’t had the results I felt I deserved. Mum and dad and my coach are sick of hearing me say that there’s a big result coming, but it’s happened!”

The 36-hole final was an enthralling affair, played out before a very large crowd of spectators. In the morning 18 holes, the lead changed hands repeatedly as the pair traded birdies, an eagle and even a few ragged shots, but Bloor (Cavendish) came in for lunch 1up.

He pushed on in the afternoon, winning the second with a par, the third with a birdie and then stringing a series of pars together to get to four up after eight.

Brown won his first hole of the afternoon session on the ninth, where he fired a great second straight at the pin. He pulled back another on the 11th but lost the 12th to a par after his second shot was bunkered.

Then Brown moved up a gear. He had winning birdies on the long 13th, with a neat up and down from beside the green, and on the 14th, where his tee shot almost reached the putting surface. On the 16th he was back to all square after Bloor found trouble in triplicate, thanks to trees and gorse.

Wayward drives from Bloor on both 17 and 18 then helped Brown to move ahead and claim his victory.

Brown, who competes in the European Amateur this week, said: “It was crazy going four down and I knew I had to play some good golf to apply the pressure – and I did what I needed to do.

“I knew anything was possible, but George played such good golf that I had to hit some really good shots coming down those final few holes.”

“This means such a lot. I won the Yorkshire amateur four years ago and this is a similar feeling but on a much bigger stage.”