YORK golfer Damon Coulson is hoping to hole out at some of Britain's top amateur events this season.

Last year's York amateur champion, who was also part of the York Union of Golf Clubs' side that snatched the Yorkshire Inter-District Union scratch league title, the +2 handicapper is planning to widen his net for national success this year.

The 20-year-old, a member at Fulford Golf Club and runner up to former European Tour professional Jamie Miller in his club championship, has targeted the English and Irish amateur events and is planning another assault on The Open Championship qualifying.

It is all part of a steady progression for the youngster, under the tutelage of Fulford club professional Guy Wills, and could see Coulson make the jump to the fully-paid ranks should his season go well.

"I am after a lot of world amateur ranking points so I will be playing in a lot of those bigger events," he explained. "The Irish Amateur is one of them along with the South England and the English Amateur.

"I will also be playing a lot of the Yorkshire Order of Merit events. The more ranking points you have, the bigger the events you can get into - such as the Spanish Amateur.

"The more points you have, the further you move up, the more you get noticed."

Having experienced rapid success over the past year, improving his handicap from scratch, it will be Coulson's first big season playing in the national amateur arena.

He explained: "It's moving up. Every year I like to progress and get my handicap as low as possible. I will look at turning professional eventually - starting low and working my way up to the big stuff.

"At the English and Irish Amateurs, I want to make the cut to start with and then go from there. I am off to Ireland with Guy and it's all about consistency and seeing how it goes.

"I have been with Guy for about three years and we have built up a good relationship together and he knows what my problems are and what my tendencies are. We try to keep on top of it."

And looming large on his list of trophies to snare will be the Yorkshire Amateur Championship, which is staged this year at his home course in August.

"That will be a good one to win," Coulson said. "It's probably the biggest tournament of its type in Yorkshire.

"Every year I have progressed and I have won something every year. I won the York Amateur last season and it is progression every year that I am after."

Asked about his plans to turn professional, he added: "It will be a tough one but I have still got a couple of years so I may stay as an amateur. It all depends what happens this year.

"There's the Asian Tour and a lot of small pro tours you can work your way up with. I wouldn't mind going abroad. But it is just a lot of practice and staying consistent."