Slick greens cost battler Le Huray

TOM LE HURAY suffered last-hole heartache in a dramatic Channel Islands junior final at a windswept La Moye. The 16-year-old Guernsey champion went into the match as underdog against Gyles Robin, who captained the Jersey junior team to their victory at L'Ancresse earlier in the year and was also a member of the island first team who beat their Sarnian neighbours.

However, Le Huray gave his Caesarean opponent a stern test and arguably bettered him from tee to green but three-putted six times.

Both players experienced problems on the greens, which were in superb condition but due to the drying wind were extremely slick, none more so than the first where the hole was halved in bogey four.

Robin took the lead at the long second hole but this was short lived when he flew the green at the 181-yard third hole and allowed his opponent the chance to level the match.

The home player moved ahead once more at the fourth when Le Huray was blocked out after his tee shot and could make only a one-over-par five. This lead was increased at the difficult seventh hole which was played straight into the wind, with Robin making a par four.

However, Le Huray hit back with a par good enough for him to win the eighth and he reached the turn just one down.

Home supporters had their hopes raised when Robin gained a further hole at the 10th when he made a regulation par.

However, those were dashed when their man found a tree on the long 11th and was forced to concede the hole.

That episode was repeated at the 395-yard 13th where Robin failed to hold the green and ran into the bushes.

Le Huray then took the lead for the first time in the match after both players drove the 342-yard 15th but Robin three-putted.

The Jersey champion hit back immediately as his Sarnian opponent could not match his par five at the next hole.

With the 17th hole being halved, it all came down to the last to decide the championship and with a considerable gallery spilling out from the clubhouse, Robin struck a glorious five iron right into the heart of the green to apply the pressure on Le Huray.

The Sarnian had missed the green and found a poor lie in very thick grass.

Despite a superb recovery effort, his ball flew out and ran through the green.

His fourth shot was not close enough to put any pressure on the Jerseyman and Le Huray therefore sportingly conceded the hole and the match.

Robin's win completed a clean sweep for Jersey who have been successful in all the individual Channel Island championships and team matches against Guernsey during 2006.