Yorkshire golf: All systems go as Hallamshire GC's Alex Fitzpatrick heads for Thunderbird International

The 54-hole tournament will be played on the Raptor Course at Grayhawk GC at Scottsdale, Arizona, from May 27-30.

Fitzpatrick, 17, was third in the Italian Under-16 boys’ championship last year, having been runner-up in 2014, and was fifth in England’s McGregor Trophy.

He was in England’s successful Under-16 team that beat the other home countries in autumn internationals.

Also representing England in Arizona will be John Gough (Stoke Park GC) in Buckinghamshire. He was eighth on the 2015 England boys’ order of merit after a season that included second place in the Telegraph Junior Championship, fifth in the Carris Trophy and fourth in the South of England boys’ open.

Both 17-year-olds are playing in this week’s French Under-18 boys’ championship.

Fitzpatrick began with an 81, his round including four double bogeys.

After dropping a shot at the third he went on an unfortunate run that saw him card three double bogeys in four holes.

He was eight over after bogeying 11, but then had successive birdies at holes 13 and 14.

A fourth double bogey followed at 16 and another bogey at 17 left him nine over.

“I hit the ball well, but made a couple of mistakes and a couple of bad shots – which just cost me – and then the strokes just seemed to rack up,” said Fitzpatrick.

Gough was the clubhouse leader after carding a five-under-par 67 that included six birdies and just one dropped shot.