BEN Harvey is staking a claim as Dorset's amateur Player-of-the-Year after his latest burst of success.

He won the Dorset county strokeplay championship at Isle of Purbeck with rounds of 70 and 69 - the same 139 total he carded when he won the title at Dudsbury, his previous club, three years ago.

The plus-one Ferndown man, who will be 21 in November, has reached the final of the Nick Faldo Series for the third successive year.

County regular Harvey, who is virtually a full-time golfer, is hoping this will be his year in the Faldo event. He led the southern qualifiers in the under-21 division.

He achieved first place in the rounds at Walton Heath where he shot 73 and Royal St Georges with a superb 70. Although he was only third at Burhill where he shot 76, he was already well in the lead in his group.

He competes against six other players in his age group over 36 holes at Burhill on October 10. The winner is invited to spend a week with Faldo at the David Leadbetter Academy at Champion's Gate in Orlando, Florida, this winter.

He said: "I have met Nick Faldo a few times but it would be something else to get to Florida. That's my big ambition. Having an endorsement from such a great player can open so many doors.

"It could be the start of something big for me as he has helped players like Zane Scotland and James Heath in the past."

Harvey tries to represent Ferndown in as many club competitions as possible in between his wider commitments with the county and elsewhere.

His next county engagement is in the South West youths championship at Cumberwell Park on Sunday week. He has been selected to play in the South West Counties side for the annual fixture against the Midlands being held at Kings Norton in October.

He is planning another year as an amateur and is determined to reduce his handicap to plus two so he can qualify to play in all the national events next year.

He said: "You used to get in if you were a scratch player. Now even plus one players aren't guaranteed to get into everything.

"After next year I'll see how well I am playing before making a decision about my future. If I am playing well enough and can get a sponsor I'll think about turning professional in 2006."

Tony Lawrence (Sherborne) expected to finish runner-up in the county strokeplay after carding 71 and 69, but was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard. Although the total was correct two scores had been transposed in error.

The par-three 11th hole proved his downfall twice. He played the wrong ball in the morning and missed a short putt for a bogey in the afternoon, but a three was marked on the card.

So Giles Legg (Dudsbury) was elevated to second after posting 75 and 70 with Luke Joy (Broadstone) third after rounds of 70 and 76.