Le Huray comes out on top of see-saw battle

TOM LE HURAY overcame Sean Mills 2 and 1 to become the island junior champion. Both scored exceptionally well at L'Ancresse in very difficult, windy conditions and the eventual winner had to recover from going two down to claim the title.

Having taken the lead with a four at the first, Le Huray lost the second and the fourth holes to fall behind as Mills sunk a couple of long putts.

The latter then doubled his lead on the fifth with a birdie three after an excellent second to within a few feet of the pin.

For the next three holes the duo exchanged some decent tee shots which resulted in pars all the way as they reached the ninth.

However, from that tee box, both drives were wayward.

Mills leaked his into a bush in the left-hand rough while Le Huray hit a very long hook that ended just short of the road on the eighth fairway.

The latter continued to play the hole steadily as Mills accepted his penalty drop and his lead was halved to one hole.

After halving the 10th in par fours, Le Huray played the 11th impeccably. Following a long drive into the wind, he hit a towering five iron to around eight feet and holed the putt to square the match.

Both players carded fours on the 12th after their tee shots missed the green to the right and then Le Huray took the upper hand.

He launched a monster drive on the 13th and found the rough just short and left of the green while Mills played for the safety of the right-hand side of the fairway.

Mills thinned his second through the green whereas Le Huray's awkward chip went long but he canned the birdie putt after his opponent was left with around six feet for par.

However, there were more twists to come.

The players halved the 14th in par fives before Mills hit a cracker of a second from lush grass on the right of the 15th to within 10 feet and then calmly rolled in the putt for a birdie to level the match once more.

It took a birdie on the next hole following a big drive into the wind for Le Huray to re-establish the lead heading to the 17th.

From that tee, both players took the sensible option by selecting irons.

Le Huray put his ball in prime position in the fairway but Mills thinned his into long grass.

Being one down, Mills had to go for broke with his second and made good contact but pushed it into bushes at the top of the hill.

Not to be deterred, he took his penalty drop and played a superb recovery shot having now taken four.

However, it was not enough as Le Huray, having played safely to the back of the green, rolled his putt to the hole-side to claim the win.

He had played the front nine in three over par compared to Mills' two over.

The victor then played 10 to 16 in two under with Mills one over for those holes.