Juniors shine bright in final

WHO says the future of Guernsey golf isn't bright? The light may have been fading on the links last night, but the teenagers of the Guernsey Junior club shone brightly as they won a dramatic and hugely entertaining bailiwick section final of the Hampshire Sevens 4-3 against L'Ancresse.

It was fitting that it was their youngest star, Sam Le Huray, who holed the winning putt on the 18th green in the deciding rubber of a gripping encounter, a little more than a week after he won his first men's competition.

All seven matches reached the 17th and the 13-year-old's was the sixth to do so, but when opponent Danny Blondel pulled his drive into the left rough and failed to find his ball, they called the remaining contest through.

Will Davidson sewed up a 2 and 1 victory over Alan Le Noury on that green to level the overall match once more and the waiting pair knew it was all down to them.

Blondel, having wandered back down to the tee, drove again before pitching to the back of the green while Le Huray's pitch-and-run third finished within four feet.

The L'Ancresse man's putt slipped by the hole and his concession meant the fearless youngster was dormy.

Both hit fine tee shots to the last and Le Huray rolled his 20ft putt to virtual give-me range.

When Blondel's effort stayed above ground, the youngster stepped up and calmly delivered the coup de grace before being mobbed by delighted father and GJGC president Colin.

Earlier, the newly-crowned island champion Jack Mitchell continued his excellent form with a 2 and 1 victory over a resilient Elliot Corbin to take the first match out.

However, Tom Le Huray and Craig Shorto earned impressive wins within a minute of one another as opponents Steve Mahy and Jamie Blondel missed putts on 18 and 17 respectively to keep their rubbers alive.

Danny Bisson restored parity by winning the last with par to edge a ding-dong battle with Daniel O'Brien before L'Ancresse team captain Mike Hamon hit a glorious approach on the same hole to within a couple of feet and gave his side a 3-2 lead having overcome an unlucky Jamie Le Page.

But the heroics of Davidson and the younger Le Huray gave the tie a thrilling final twist.