FORMAT: 54-hole stroke play
Surrey’s James Brash stayed ice cool just when it mattered to win the North of England U-14s Stroke Play Championship by six shots at South Moor.
The Foxhills teenager began the final round at the County Durham course three clear but, after nine holes, his lead had been cut to one by Kent’s Jack Swift (North Foreland).
James, who finished fifth at the event last year, responded in great style though. He played the inward loop in one under to close with a level par 72 and finish two over for the tournament (218).
The 14-year-old Reeds School pupil, who won a Clutch Tour amateur men’s event at Sunningdale Heath in April when he also recorded his fourth hole in one, enjoyed an eventful start on day one. After seven holes he was three under after holing a couple of 20 footers and almost chipping in at the fourth. He would close with a 72 to leave himself two behind Swift.
In round two the 59 entrants in the mixed boys/girls competition had to cope with much windier conditions and James’s two-over-par 74 gave him a lead he would never lose.
In the girls section, Cheshire’s Sophie Clafton (Wallasey) finished well clear of the rest on the back of rounds of 79, 79 and 80. That gave her both the U-14s and U-12s prizes.
The boys U-12s winner, Norfolk’s Thomas Hartshorne (Eaton), was hugely impressive in recording a 13 over par total.