LANSDOWN champion Ed Butler has moved a giant step nearer earning his first England cap by winning a major championship.

He claimed the West of England Strokeplay title over Saunton's championship East course by a stunning five-shot margin.

His victory was the biggest in the championship for years and he left a posse of internationals behind with a display of consistency that augurs well for his future.

He then moved into fifth place in the English Golf Union order of merit after landing the prestigious Burnham Challenge Salver at the famous links.

Butler, aged 23, has won the Gloucestershire order of merit three times and has represented the South West Counties, but national glory has eluded him.

He said: "I am really making a great effort this year because I have set my heart on getting an international call-up. I am playing in all the big tournaments."

At Saunton he made a disappointing start with 74, three over par, but only one under the standard scratch score for the round, on a windy Saturday morning.

He recovered swiftly to overhaul first round leader David Porter (Stoneham) with a sparkling 68 in the afternoon.

He ended the day on 142, one behind Chris McDonnell (Stocksfield) whose 66 was the best of the championship.

Two rounds of 70 underlined Butler's newfound steadiness, based on greater confidence with his driver, and he totalled 282.

England's latest international, Wiltshire's Martin Sell (Wrag Barn), sprinted through the field when he picked up five strokes in the final 36 holes.

This helped him capture second place on 287 from internationals Colin Edwards (Bath) and Paul Bradshaw (Gainsborough), with veteran Walker Cup star Gary Wolstenholme fifth.

Edwards, now 39, was playing in his first big event of the year and was delighted with his showing.

He suffered one bad round, a 77 on Saturday afternoon, after opening with 71. He finished with 70 and 69. He won the title in 1998.

Butler has been playing full-time golf since leaving Cannington College, near Bridgwater, where he took a golf studies course, and has been working part-time for Mike Bessell at The Golf Academy at Yatton Keynell.

Butler's England bid is backed by Lansdown golf manager Terry Mercer. He said: "Ed asked me to give him a bit of coaching towards the end of last year.

"All the signs have been that he is moving forward. His only real problem was a tendency to be inconsistent off the tee.

"He seems to have sorted that out and is pretty strong in all departments now."

Somerset international Lee Corfield (Burnham and Berrow) was sixth on 289 and Keynsham's former Walker Cup player Mathew Stanford (The Players Club) ninth on 293.

At Burnham Butler beat another quality field by five shots over 36 holes. He trailed Devon's Alan Gawman by two shots after an opening 71, but a devastating 67, seven below the standard scratch, left the rest of the field reeling.