HE spent several frustrating years trying to make his way on to the European Tour when attached to Wentworth as a professional, but 43-year- old Matt Wilcox rolled back the years with a blistering display in the first round of the English Amateur Championship at The Berkshire.

Having given up on his dream of playing on tour, the managing director of a lead roofing specialist company showed his mettle against the leading young amateurs, carding a brilliant 63 on the Ascot club’s Blue course.

Wilcox, who admits to have having ended up hating golf while chasing his dream of fame and fortune in the pro ranks, which also left him penniless at the lowest point, was playing with a smile on his face again.

Having won the Justin Rose Mid Amateur Championship at the Fleet club last month, Wilcox came into the blue Riband event in form and raced to the turn in four-under par thanks to a birdie two at the first, before picking up shots at the third, fifth and seventh holes.

Having holed a 10-footer at the first after hitting a gentle four-iron into the par three, he hit his wedge into the third to eight feet before using the shortest clubs in the bag to good effect on the rest of the front nine.

He was left with a three-footer and two-foot birdie chances at the fifth and seventh, and then eagled the par five 11th having hit his seven-iron to 30 feet.

Wilcox, who lives in Chineham, said: “There was about six-foot of break on the eagle putt so it was wonderful to see it drop.

"When putts like that go in you have to feel great about your game although on the whole it was just a very steady round.

“There were no other dramas, it was just nice and steady.

"The longest par putt I holed was about 10 feet so there was no stress out there – and to be fair with the best players in the country there, the course was there for the taking.”

He fired both his approaches into 15 and 16 to around the eight foot mark to complete his best round of the season - and admitted it could have been so, so much better.

Wilcox added: “I probably missed four or five more birdie chances from around the seven foot range, but I will take eight-under par all day long.”

Wilcox followed up with a 72 on day two, but was then knocked out 6&5 by Bridgnorth member Conor White in the first round of the knock-out section.