MARTIN Sell arrived in Scotland today, vowing to put a recent dip in form behind him to try and go one better in next week's British Amateur Championship.

Rising star Sell pitched up at Royal Troon today determined to once again stamp his mark at the very top of the unpaid ranks.

Twelve months ago, the Wrag Barn youngster made a dramatic debut at what is one of amateur golf's biggest tournaments by reaching the final at Royal Porthcawl.

Agonisingly, a one-hole defeat to Spaniard Alejandro Larrazabal deprived him of a quite amazing first-time victory and an exemption to two of pro golf's 'Majors', the US Masters and Open Championship.

But having come so close, the 24-year-old is hungry to ensure that last year's heroics were not just a one-off.

Sell has a string of decent performances behind him this year but he admits this event, which starts on Monday, is the one he has been looking forward to more than any other.

"I've been building up to this one and I'm playing with a bit more confidence,'' he said.

In an exhausting format, two days of strokeplay on the Royal Troon and Irvine courses will decide which 64 players progress to the matchplay stages.

And the Wrag Barn ace insists getting through those opening two days and into the matchplay rounds is the key to a successful week.

Sell, who starts his bid in a three-ball with Italy's Francesco Molinari and Hamilton's Euan Moir at Royal Troon on Monday lunchtime, said: "There are a lot of people trying to qualify for that last 64 in the matchplay stages.

"My matchplay record is pretty good, so it's about getting into that stage and then taking it from there.''

Sell, who may make an attempt to reach the paid ranks at the end of the year, opened his 2003 campaign with a superb sequence of results, including a semi-final appearance at the Spanish Amateur Championship and reaching the last 16 at the Portuguese event.

He was also runner-up at the West of England event at Saunton last month, but results have dried up somewhat he finished well adrift in the Lytham, Brabazon and St Andrews Link trophies.

But he said: "I've taken a few days off and worked on a couple of things, but I've been taking it easy really. I've never played at Troon before, but I'll maybe get a few holes in and have a practice round on Sunday.''