Golf by Alan Booth GLEN PORTELLI held on to the Hertfordshire Boys Championship for the second year but he had an anxious wait as Tom Lewis in the final match at Mill Green had the chance to overtake him for the title.

Golf by Alan Booth

GLEN PORTELLI held on to the Hertfordshire Boys Championship for the second year but he had an anxious wait as Tom Lewis in the final match at Mill Green had the chance to overtake him for the title.

Last year Portelli, from Brickendon Grange, won after a play off and, as Lewis came to the 188 yards par 3 18th another play off seemed likely as he needed a birdie to win and a par to tie. His tee shot left him 20ft short of the hole and as he putted up short, he failed to hole from 4ft for bogey, leaving him runner-up.

Lewis, from Welwyn Garden City, at plus 1, lowest handicap player in the field, had led after a three under par first round 69, with boys' order of merit winner Portelli, 1 handicap, a shot adrift, but in the afternoon, the defending champion shot 68 for a six under par 138 total as Lewis finished with 70 for 139. Sam Claridge (Harpenden Common was third, rounds of 73 70 for 143.

Callum Shinkwin (Porters Park) shrugged off a morning 77 to follow with some fine play in the afternoon to match Portelli's 68, the lowest round of the day, and win the under-16 title on 145 for the Reid Trophy. Daniel Ellis Banbury (Letchworth) was runner-up a shot adrift on 71, 75. Also on 146 was Andrew Peasnell (Harpenden), 73, 73.

Over his home course David Wells shot 74, 73, his 147 being matched by Luke Colgate (Berkhamsted) 77, 70. On 149 were Tom Brown (Harpenden Common) 72, 77 and Mark Hammond (Letchworth) 73, 76

The team trophy was won by Harpenden Common, with a best of two total of 291 - Sam Claridge 73, 70, Tom Brown 72, 77, Marcus Fox 80, 76.

At Batchworth Park a year ago, Portelli tied with Tom Speyer (West Herts) and won the play off with a par at the first extra hole.