BILLY McKenzie picked up the first international win of his career by becoming the second Hampshire player to win the Spanish Amateur Championship – 12 years after Sam Hutsby of Liphook recorded a famous win over future Ryder Cup player Edoardo Molinari (writes Andrew Griffin).

McKenzie, who was nominated for the NAIA’s Jack Nicklaus Award in US college golf three years in a row before graduating from William Woods University last summer, beat Sheffield’s Alex Fitzpatrick, younger brother of Ryder Cup player Matt, 3&2 in Sunday’s 36-hole final at La Manga.

The Rowlands Castle player, a member of the Hampshire team crowned English County Champions for the first time in 21 years last October, added the Spanish matchplay title to the Berkshire and Tillman Trophies he won in top UK strokeplay events in 2015 and 2016.

Having just scraped into the knockout by finishing 32nd after the 36-hole qualifier, he beat last year’s Hampshire Hog winner, Jake Burnage from Devon, England’s fastest-rising amateur.

McKenzie said: “I wanted a decent result to start the season and felt that getting to the last 16 would be acceptable. After that, I just free up and played it one game at a time – and it came, if not easier, less pressurised.”

McKenzie acknowledged his friendship with Corhampton’s Scott Gregory had played a big part in his triumph. The 2016 British Amateur Champion lost in the final of the Spanish in that same year.

I’m very close with Scott, we have the same coach and have been pushing each other on,” said McKenzie. “He’s been giving me advice during the week and telling me to bring it home, which he couldn’t!”

He has earned himself an invitation to the European Tour’s Spanish Open, being held in Madrid, the week after the Masters.

“It’s unbelievable. To win one of these big matchplay events is a dream come true.”

England have enjoyed much success in Spain down the years. Past winners of the Iberian championship include 2016 Masters winner Danny Willett (2008), fellow Yorkshireman Richard Finch (2001) and Surrey’s Zane Scotland (2002).