Marco Penge has set his sights on a place in golfing history.

The 16-year-old from Horsham launches his bid to become one of the youngest ever players to compete in the Walker Cup when he tees it up at the Portuguese Amateur Championship this week.

Penge knows he needs to make a strong start to the season after being left out of captain Nigel Edwards’ initial 20-man training Great Britain and Ireland squad for the amateur version of the Ryder Cup last week.

The Goodwood star will be 17 years and 120 days old when the 45th Walker Cup takes place at Royal Lytham and St Annes in September.

If he makes the final ten-man team, which is announced in August, it would make him the third youngest player in the 94-year history of the event behind Oliver Fisher and Goodwood stable-mate Justin Rose.

It could also be his only chance of playing in the biennial event against the USA with Penge considering turning professional at the end of the year.

Penge said: “Playing in the Walker Cup is a huge ambition of mine. It is something I have wanted to do since I started playing golf so everything is geared towards it this year.

“I didn’t really expect to be in the initial squad because that was based on last year’s results and I didn’t play in that many of the qualifying events in 2014.

“There is plenty of time to force my way into the team but I need to make a strong start.

“I feel like my game is in good shape and has come on a lot during the winter so if I play well I don’t see any reason why I can’t make it.

“I’ll have to win an amateur tournament and have some solid top fives in others but I’m more than capable of that.

“I’m playing a lot better than I did last year.

“I struggled with my swing a bit in 2014 but I’ve tweaked it a bit over the winter and it is a lot more compact and consistent now.”

Penge kicks off his 2015 campaign at the Portuguese Amateur which starts at Montado on Wednesday before going on to the Spanish International Amateur Championships on February 25.

The Lytham Trophy in May will be crucial to his hopes as it is played over the same course as the Walker Cup while June will be a pivotal month as it includes the St Andrews Links, British Amateur and Brabazon Trophy.

Penge sees playing in the Walker Cup as the perfect ending for his amateur career with his intention being to try to win a place on the European Tour through Q School in November.

The former Forest School pupil said: “If I have a really good year I will consider turning pro. I haven’t made a final decision yet but I’ll definitely go to Q School and if I get my card I’ll go for it.

“I’m young but I feel ready. My friend Renato Paratore turned pro at the end of last year at the age of 18 and has made the cut in all four events he has played so far which shows if you’re good enough you’re old enough.

“I played against Renato a few times in amateur golf and there is not much difference in our games so seeing how he has got on has given me confidence that I can do it too.”