Ken started playing golf aged seven at Bedlington golf club with his family and showed signs of promise right away. As an amateur he was capped at every level by England. He won various national amateur events including the Northern Boys, English Schools and Lagonda trophy and was also named in the 1999 Walker Cup squad. While at college in America he won many titles, broke numerous scoring records and was named a two time All American.

He made his first appearance on the European Tour in 1996 as an amateur at the age of seventeen in the Slaley Hall Northumberland Challenge. No doubt the highlight of his amateur career was winning the British Boys Championship in 1996 at Littlestone, Kent. By winning this he joined an illustrious group of winners such as Ronan Rafferty (1979), Jose Maria Olazabal (1983) and Sergio Garcia (1997).

Team Honours
1996 - GB&I Boys Team
1996 - England Boys Team
1996 - England Schools Team
1997 - England Youths Team
1998 - England Mens Team
1999 - GB&I Walker Cup Squad

College
1998 - NJCAA All American
1999 - NJCAA All American