HE HAS not worn the light blue of Hampshire for nearly six years, but Hayling’s Toby Burden can’t wait to get back into action when the South East Daily Telegraph League campaign gets under way at Ferndown on Sunday.

Newly-appointed county captain Martin Young had no hesitation in pitching Burden back in when naming his first eight-man team after the 28-year-old, who has spent a frustrating time playing on the mini-tours as a pro since the summer of 2010, finished 11th in the Selborne Salver just three weeks ago.

His performance was even better than it looked on paper as he only lost out to five others on countback having finished four shots behind the winner James Walker, from Yorkshire, thanks to a pair of 70s on the tight par 69 course.

Hampshire have not lost to Dorset since 2006 – but they were held to a draw in both 2013 and 2014 in the traditional curtain-raiser to the four South Division matches they play annually.

Victory in at least three games is normally required to reach October’s South East League Final – but Hampshire have not won the Telegraph Salver since 2012, losing to Essex in their last final appearance two years ago.

Young – like his predecessor Steve Williams, from Stoneham, has an embarrassment of riches to choose from.

The Brokenhurst Manor man – with more Telegraph appearances under his belt than any other player in the current set-up – threw down the gauntlet to the county’s contingent of up-and-coming youngsters by warning them he will not give up his place as a player in the eight-man team unless they are playing better golf than the 45-year-old, who has two Hampshire Amateur Championships to his name.

But for Burden, it is a case of making up for some lost time and settling some unfinished business in the amateur game having rediscovered his appetite for golf after an injury-plagued time as a pro.

Toby, who lost in two county championship matchplay finals, back in 2006 when he lost to Stuart Archibald on his home track, and to Rowlands Castle’s Tom Robson, at Liphook, in 2009, said: “Getting back my amateur status was a massive step for me.

“I won as a professional and have played to a very high level but after having so many injuries as a pro and falling out of love with the game as a result, I can now say it’s now not the case anymore.

“For me, golf is the ultimate sport which is so similar to life itself.

“I love the game again for what golf represents. After having a few months off of not touching a club in the early part of 2015, I watched the 2005 Masters video of Tiger chipping in.

“Before the film had finished I was over the golf club chipping and putting again.

“That evening I wrote my goals down of what I wanted to achieve as an amateur again as I realised that I love competing.

“It took me 12 months to get my status back. One of my goals was to get back into the Hampshire first team again.

“I have achieved that and now I want to crack on. I feel I have some unfinished business with amateur golf and I am excited about what I can do.”

Burden, who helped Hampshire reach the English County Finals by thrashing Essex at Stoneham, in July 2010, before turning pro, now works full-time as a recruitment consultant at Randstad Engineering within the defence and aerospace team, based at Whiteley.

Toby added: “Like golf, my work is competitive and I love it.

“Coming tied sixth at the Salver was pleasing. I was very rusty in a competitive sense but felt comfortable and excited again.

“I probably played to 60 per cent of my current ability but that has actually filled me with confidence moving forward in this new challenge.

“I am really looking forward to playing in the first match against Dorset and for the rest of the year – but I know that with the strength of the whole squad I will have to produce the goods.

“Let the games begin.”

Young’s side also contains Corhampton’s Scott Gregory, the Spanish Amateur Finalist who will make his full England debut against France next week, at Formby, and Hayling’s reigning Hampshire Amateur Champion Darren Walkley.

Team: Martin Young captain (Brokenhurst Manor); Darren Walkley, Toby Burden (Hayling); Sam Day, Scott Gregory (Corhampton); Mark Burgess (Blackmoor); Billy Watson (North Hants). Reserve: Harry Ellis (Meon Valley G&CC).