No-one can be in any doubt that Huddersfield’s Nick Marsh has joined the elite group of the world’s top amateur golfers.

The 20-year-old English Amateur Champion has just returned from a five-week trip to Australia and tomorrow leaves for Spain, one of a four-man England squad competing for the European Nations Cup.

He is currently ranked as the 36th best amateur in the world and sixth in Europe.

Marsh put in some solid performances Down Under as one of a three-man England squad. The highlight of his results was top qualifier in the Australian Amateur Championships, held jointly at The Australian and The Lakes Golf Clubs.

The plus five handicapper posted an unbeatable 68, 68. However, he wasn’t allowed to rest on his laurels for long, losing in the first knock-out round.

His other results were: New South Wales Matchplay, Avondale, last 32; New South Wales Open Amateur Strokeplay, Killara/Monash, T21 (69,76), Lake Macquarie Amateur Open, Belmont, T40 (75,73,72,72), and Australian Master of the Amateurs, Royal Melbourne, T16 (69,73,72,71).

Marsh returned home last week impressed with the Australian courses and fairly happy with his game.

His aim -although he is reluctant to look so far ahead - is to make the Walker Cup team at Royal Lytham & St Annes in September.

As he said: “There is a lot of golf between now and then.”

Reflecting on his Antipodean performance, Marsh said: “I was very pleased with my strokeplay in the Australian Amateurs. But I lost a bit of rhythm, missed a couple of greens and got knocked out in the first round of matchplay.

“He got a couple of birdies and the momentum changed; that’s matchplay.

“I played well at that and the Master of the Amateurs, finishing under par and tied 16th.

“It was my first time in Australia and I really enjoyed it. It was lovely weather and the courses were absolutely great.

“The people were really welcoming and I had a great time - I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.”

Tomorrow he leaves for La Reserva Golf Club in Spain where he represents England’s elite squad in the European Nations Cup.

All four men play each day, with the top three scores counting. England are hoping to wrest the trophy from Scotland, the 2014 winners.

This leads straight into the next competition, the Spanish Amateur Championship at Sherry Golf Club.

Marsh said: “I am really looking forward to next week and getting back to the sunshine!”

Talking about the Walker Cup, he added: “Since I started playing golf at a high level, it has been my long-term ambition to play in the Walker Cup.

“But there is a lot of golf between now and then and I am just focusing on one tournament at a time and hope I do enough to get picked. when the time comes.”