Geoff Lewis left stunned by national success

Lewis, who plays at Lilleshall Hall Golf Club, won the competition which included 25,000 amateur golfers in total, male and female, from nearly 600 golf clubs across the UK.

Playing at Old Head Golf Links, County Cork, Ireland along with seven other golfers, he posted a net 75 – three over par – to finish two shots in front of Brian Porteous from Bearsden Golf Club near Glasgow.

He was presented with the trophy by Europe's 2002 Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance.

The course could have proved extremely tricky, with rocky cliff edges and high winds to cope with, but Lewis – who is a highways technician in Telford – said the playing conditions were good.

"They weren't that bad to be fair, the winds only went up to about 20 miles an hour," he said..

"We dropped it a bit lucky with the weather, it can usually be a lot worse than it was."

Lewis won one of 780 qualifying club medal competitions, with a net round of 60 at Lilleshall, before finishing runner-up in the Wales & South West regional final at Celtic Manor's 2010 Ryder Cup course to reach the final.

He added: "It started back in April when I played a 'worldie' at Lilleshall, after that I went to Celtic Manor and finished second in August and then got invited to play at Old Head.

"I only knew about the competition when a club secretary told me that I had qualified after having an amazing round at Lilleshall. It was a little strange really, it sounds a bit odd. To win is a bit of a shock, it's still sinking in. It's been excellent and it is nice to get some recognition.

"I have got to give recognition to the golf club because I've only been there three years and my golf had to improve significantly because Lilleshall is a tough course.

"When I got there, I couldn't hit the ball straight. I went on eBay and bought a load of fishing gear and I was going to pack it in because I was fed up with it.

"I made the decision to knuckle down, though, and with Dave Aston, we have worked hard and I have reduced my handicap by eight in the last 12 months.

"It has been an incredible journey and experience from the start and all of a sudden I am being handed a trophy by Sam Torrance."

Graham Davis, president of Lilleshall Golf Club said: "We are ever so chuffed, he's only been with us a short while and he's doing very well. He is an asset to the club, we're very proud of him and he's a very nice lad as well. He's putting Lilleshall Hall Golf Club on the map."