GOLF sensation Conor Gough is targeting national level success in the New Year after emerging as one of the stars of 2016.

The Stoke Park scholar and St Joseph’s Catholic High School pupil turned his attention back onto the sport this year, and the rewards have been remarkable.

He won the Reid Trophy for the English Boys Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship, the Douglas Johns Trophy, and was the youngest of eight players to represent England in the Home Nations match against Wales.

The 14-year-old has now been selected for the England Under-16 Thames Valley regional squad training programme, and he has big ambition for the future.

“I would say that most of my success has been down to hard work,” Gough explained to the Observer.

“Last year and throughout the winter I was playing football a lot and not really concentrating on golf.

“I didn’t really like to go out and play because of the cold weather. This winter I was actually practising quite hard and that really helped me throughout the whole year. It helped me to perform well and keep it up, not lack in anything.”

Commenting on the challenge to combine golf commitments with school work, Gough said: “You need to manage your time because some competitions next year all come in school weeks, so you have to take a week off.

“When you get back you have bundles of work you need to catch up on, but I suppose that is okay. The teachers at school are quite nice, they know me, and always help me to catch up on everything.

“I don’t want to just compete at national level, but try to win U18 competition. Quite a few wins would be nice.”