IF you are going to bring the curtain down on a season then you might as well do it in style, and that’s exactly what Rhys Thompson has done.

When Thompson headed down the fairways of Boldon Golf Club with his grandad, Alan Telford, on Tuesday, he did so as the winner of the Durham County Golf Union Order of Merit. Again.

It’s all about midweek winter golf for the 21-year-old, as he looks to develop the talent which has already earned him plenty of recognition in recent years ahead of another big 2017.

Thompson’s success in the Northern Counties Big Six has secured a place in the English Amateur Championship next year and once he has played in that the plan will be to give the professional circuit a go.

The plus two handicapper said: “There’s nothing else on now, that’s me done for the year. It’s just about getting back out in midweek with my grandad at Boldon when I’m free.

“Hopefully next year will be good too, knowing I will be playing in the English Amateur. I’m going to have one more year as an amateur because of that and then maybe turn pro and give the tour scene a go.

“I will probably go on the EuroPro and see if I can work my way up on there and how I handle it. I want to try to push on in that direction because becoming a PGA pro and going down the coaching route is not really where I see myself at the moment, maybe in the future.”

Thompson’s victory in the Big Six at Delamere Golf Club in August was the triumph which propelled him to the top of the Order of Merit and he increased his lead by winning the Ravensworth Bowl.

Even though he was unable to play in the final merit counting event at Brancepeth Castle – in the Leonard Crawley – he stayed at the top of the pile by just ten points, edging out former Durham champion Richard Aisbitt for the second year in a row.

“I was never really thinking about winning the Order of Merit and the Big Six lifted me right up there,” he said. “At Rockliffe in the Northern Masters I didn’t play particularly well but still finished above those who could catch me and that took us into the final event at Brancepeth.

“I knew Richard was behind me and I couldn’t play. He needed to finish second or first to take over at the top and I think he finished third on count-back … it was that close. It’s just nice to know I have found some consistency.”

Thompson has started to work in memberships at Slaley Hall in recent months after leaving the University of Lancashire in Preston with a degree in golf management. That course also allowed him to play golf full-time, for the university team during his time there and he captained the side in his final year.

“I’m loving working in golf, that’s all I have wanted to do,” said Thompson, who travels over to the Northumberland course on a daily basis from his Boldon roots.

“I’m enjoying it here and I’m enjoying my golf too, so hopefully that will continue.

“Over the years I have played well at times, but it’s just been great to find some consistency. If you can stay consistent then that is an important part of developing your golf. Hopefully it will continue.”