Fairway Focus - Golf, with Peter Ricketts

Sep 20 2008 by Tom Reid, Birmingham Mail

The England cap – his second – is further recognition that this 21-year-old from Nuneaton is rapidly gaining solid international status after making his mark by reaching the semi-finals of the Amateur Championship and winning the national Berkhamsted Trophy.

His breakthrough into England level has persuaded him to give the amateur world another season before turning professional.

“My aim next year will be to win a major amateur title,” he said. “Giving myself another year seems the best plan of action. I’m getting more consistent all the time and that’s what you need as a professional.”

In a season he rates as “not too bad,” he has had notable victories closer to home. He strengthened his position as Warwickshire No.1 by achieving the grand slam of the county Amateur, Match Play and Open titles.

He thus equalled the record set by Tom Whitehouse eight years ago – though he did it after a gap of 64 years!

Sullivan’s entry into the realms of international golf has not dimmed his enthusiasm for county competitions and he is hoping to be back from Australia just in time for Warwickshire’s Midland League match against Nottinghamshire at WollatonParkon October 12.

“I know Andy,” said team captain Gareth Jenkins. “If his plane gets back on time he will be with us.”

Jenkins himself missed the last county match because of an operation on his left foot but he hopes to be fit again by October 5 when his team play Derbyshire at Handsworth.

The log jam of matches on successive Sundays was caused because of a wholesale wash-out in the storms of early September.

Warwickshire are trailing in the league table, but Jenkins has not given up all hope.

“If we beat Derby at Handsworth by a substantial amount on October 5 and Notts in our last match at Wollaton by a large number, we could still win the league,” he said.

Oh well, a captain can dream…

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