Ben Evans' first full season on the amateur circuit has really taken off.

He got a flyer at the start of the year, winning the inaugural Faldo Series International Trophy in Hong Kong.

This week at East Sussex National, the 18-year-old England B international, from Staplecross, shot a three under par 69 over the East Course to win the SE England Faldo Series under-21s regional title at a canter.

As a member of Team Faldo, Evans has earned himself an exclusive place as the only amateur in the Welsh Open starting at Celtic Manor on Thursday.

He was not the only Sussex youngster to shine in the regional Faldo Series at ESN. Bognor's Ollie Reddick shot a 74 to win the under-17s group.

It is hardly surprising that Faldo has been impressed by Evans who tied for first place in the opening UK series event at Royal St Georges last month.

At the rate he is going, Evans is well placed to win the final order of merit and he has another seven months before celebrating his 19th birthday.

Not one to blow his own trumpet, Evans made light of the way in which he mastered the strong wind and rain at ESN.

He did, however, reveal that a 30-inch putt slipped by for a birdie at the first hole. Unworried, he went on to card five birdies and two bogies.

Glyn, his father who is in the golf business, kept close tabs on the round.

He said: "He stuck it fairly close all day long and played pretty well."

It was their joint decision to withdraw from the British Amateur at Birkdale next week to accept an invitation to play in the Welsh Open and be among a host of Tour players.

The experience of appearing in a totally pro environment indicates where Evans' aspirations lie.

With Faldo as his mentor, it seems highly likely he will turn professional one day.

Money is no problem in his case. He went to Palm Springs earlier in the year for intensive coaching as one of seven elite youngsters with access to Faldo's specialist people forming part of his management group.

Evans doesn't see a great deal of his local clubs Rye and Sedlescombe and appearances for Sussex were also restricted when he studied at Millfield School in Somerset.

Since the age of 14 he has worn an England badge but the only county title so far in Evans' locker is the Sussex Boys' Champion of Champions Trophy after shooting a record 65 at Pyecombe.

He lost last August at The Dyke to Michael Lindfield in the Sussex Boys' Championship and is no stranger to finishing second.

Lawrie Tremlett, the Lewes head greenkeeper, beat him by two holes in the first round of the Bernard Yates Trophy in freezing weather at Lewes early in the New Year.

But since then Evans is the name that has appeared at the head of the Faldo Series leaderboards and he intends to keep it that way.