AFTER a superb summer of golf, Andrew Cloke is the firm favourite to receive the special Achievement Award at this year's Hampshire PGA dinner on March 3.

Cloke set a cracking pace on the fairways last season, especially from September when the Weybrook Park professional won six consecutive titles to roar up the main and assistant's orders of merit.

The Old Basing golfer's form drew praise from Hampshire PGA secretary David Wheeler, who said: "In winning six consecutive events, Andrew set a Hampshire PGA record. Despite some testing conditions, his play was outstanding."

Although the winner will not be revealed until the dinner, Cloke said: "I won't expect to get it but if I do, I will be very pleased.

"I was definitely playing the best golf of my career when I was winning those events. I felt very confident, happy with my swing and my putting - and felt good every time I stepped on the golf course."

He added: "It gave me a lot of self-belief and I hope to take that into the Europro Tour this year.

"I am going to go for my Europro Tour card at the qualifying school in March as I want to try to step up a level now."

One award Cloke will definitely be getting at the dinner on Friday, March 3, is the Meachers Group Ranking Award, which he secured after winning the assistants' order of merit title.

In the main order of merit chase, he was narrowly pipped as winner by Wellow's David Porter.

The 24-year-old local ace's winning run began in mid-September with three victories on the ERIF UK Hampshire PGA Irish Tour.

He then followed up with victory at Barton-on-Sea in the Meachers Masters Championship to claim his first Hampshire "major".

After that, he won the Strada Contractors Hampshire PGA Trainees Championship at Waterlooville Golf Club.

Cloke shot rounds of 68 and 65 for an 11-under-par two-round total of 133, seven shots clear of second-placed Chris Hudson (Southwood).

Cloke's winning score also beat by three shots the previous best 36-hole aggregate for the championship, set by Russell Tate in 2003.

He cemented his sixth triumph when he won at Rowland's Castle in the final event of 2005 to secure the assistants' title.

Guest speakers at the dinner include TV game show host Roy Walker, Peter McGovern, head pro at the Belfry, and outgoing Hampshire PGA captain Philip Bryden.

Toastmaster for the evening will be former PGA captain John Stirling. Tickets are now on sale from club professionals.

First published: Monday, January 30, 2006