HERTFORDSHIRE Under 18s Boys lifted the Cheshunt Salver after a fine win against Essex Boys at Redbourn Golf Club. The high quality match, played on Monday, March 31, showed the impressive potential of some young golfers from both counties.

HERTFORDSHIRE Under 18s Boys lifted the Cheshunt Salver after a fine win against Essex Boys at Redbourn Golf Club.

The high quality match, played on Monday, March 31, showed the impressive potential of some young golfers from both counties.

Hertfordshire enjoyed the better fortunes in the morning foursomes, lunching contentedly with a 4-2 advantage thanks to a win from their top pair of Sam Claridge (Harpenden Common) and Glen Portelli (Brickendon Grange) and two halved matches from Luke Colgate (Berkhamsted) and Callum Shinkwin (Porters Park) and Andrew Griffiths (Mid-Herts) and Chris Mach (Ashridge). New pairing Tom Cutting (Berkhamsted) and Marcus Fox (Harpenden Common) won their match 3 & 2 and the back pair of Chadwell Springs golfers Bradley Clarke and George Hewitt won their match 1 up. Nick Ward, of host club Redbourn, was paired with Oliver Brown (East Herts). Nick, aged 12, was making his county debut having been called from his bed when the county found themselves needing a replacement at the 11th hour due to a late withdrawal. Nick won the prize at last year's Ian Poulter invitation event for the best dressed golfer and continues to impress with his sound golf swing.

In the afternoon singles, young Nick played commendably well with straight hitting, often out driven but never out-putted. He took his far older and more experienced opponent to the 16th green before a remarkable recovery shot and single putt closed him out to lose 3 & 2 but he gained immense experience from this opportunity and is sure to contribute in the future of boys county golf.

The afternoon singles were fiercely contended with Essex coming back determined to hold on to the trophy they won last year. Seven of the 12 singles went to the 18th green, with Hertfordshire just edging the subsequent results by one which proved highly significant in the finish. Perhaps the most remarkable was Callum Shinkwin, of Porters Park, who, from three down with four to play, won the 15th with a birdie, the 16th and 17th with a par to get back to all square, and then was on the green at the 619 yard par 5 18th in two to secure yet another birdie and take the game against his previously unbeaten in singles opponent, Steve Jones from Canonsbrook.

The match was in the balance as single games ebbed and flowed right to the very last game. With the score 9-8 in Hertfordshire's favour the last match came to the 18th all square. George Hewitt was some 150 yards from the green in two, just ahead of his opponent who then unfortunately put his third shot out of bounds in going for the green. George responded by putting his approach on the green front and, with his opponent bunkered, the match was conceded for Hertfordshire to claim a rare victory over their near rivals by 10 matches to 8. Sam Claridge (2&1), Luke Colgate (5&4), Chris Mach (1 up) and Marcus Fox (1 up) also won their singles matches.