HAWORTH'S Will Whiteoak has joined some illustrious company in winning the prestigious Tillman Trophy – and has done so in record-breaking style.

The Shipley member shot rounds of 66, 69, 66, 69 to make a best-ever total of 270 for the amateur event at Moor Park and won by five shots from a quartet of Matthew Fieldsend, Josh Hilleard, James Walker and Nick Watson.

Perhaps even more thrilling is to have his name on a trophy that also contains that of four-time major winner Ernie Els (who won in 1988) in addition to Ryder Cup players Ross Fisher (2001) and Peter Baker (1985, 1986) and European PGA Tour players Simon Wakefield (1996) and Phil Parkin (1982).

"It is nice to have a trophy at home with Els' name on it," confessed Whiteoak. "It looks a bit like the Word Cup and I don't have to hand it back until next May."

The Tillman Trophy was played over both the West Course and the High Course on the first day, and he added: "I shot a 66 over the West Course, which I played 'blind', which was perhaps as well as I didn't know where all the hazards were!

"It was a par 69 and was quite short and tight, whereas the High Course is the championship course, and I played them both steadily and ended day one five shots behind the leader when it was overcast and humid – perfect conditions really."

The leader was Walsall's Freddie Sheridan-Mills, who shot 67, 63 but then fell away with two 73s to finish in a tie for sixth, whereas Whiteoak made his move on day two with another 66 and another 69.

He added: "I was 12 under after three rounds and leading by four as the others fell away. My caddie and myself reckoned I needed to finish 16 under to win it.

"However, I won it by five shots on 15 under and was quite surprised how big the margin was. I expected it to be closer."

Those four rounds of under 70 – he was the only player to achieve this in the field of 132 – and winning the Tillman Trophy is not only likely to boost his world amateur ranking from 754 to around the 500 mark but has also put the former Oakbank pupil in a good frame of mind for the English Amateur Championship, which starts at Alwoodley on Monday.

"It is a confidence booster but I haven't got low expectations or high expectations for next week," said Will.

"I just want to be in the top 64 after two rounds and qualify for the matchplay, and then hopefully I can be there all week."

His success in the Tillman Trophy, where the previous best total was the 271 of current European PGA Tour player Dave Coupland in 2010, is a direct contrast to what happened to him in the Bradford Open at Keighley.

Whiteoak explained: "I was in a two-ball in the middle of some three-balls, which annoyed me, and I shanked my tee shot on the second hole.

"Then I was eight over on the 14th and a klaxon sounded signalling a delay and I decided I didn't want to be there so I left."

However, in general, he is making good progress but admitted: "The earliest I would turn professional would be at the end of 2016, when I would still only be 22."