OLIVER Clarke won the Lancashire Boys’ Championship at Rossendale for the second time in three years. And he is believed to be the first player to claim four county titles at this level, having succeeded in under-14 and 16 events.
The England boy international from Hillside, who plays off plus two, eclipsed a 55-strong field of which 40 had five handicaps or less, with rounds of 72 and 70 for a two-under-par total.
An eagle three at the 12th was the highlight of the morning which helped offset leaking three shots on the last two holes. He then atoned for a double bogey at the second with four birdies in the afternoon to prevail by four strokes from host club member Luke Bartram, who was round in 71 and 75.
Oliver, pictured receiving the trophy from Lancashire president Andrew Batt, will represent Lancashire in the English Junior Champion of Champions tournament in September at Woodhall Spa.
County secretary Phil Harvey said: “Rossendale provided an excellent test for the best under-18 players in the county. The home club also took the team prize and qualified for the English Junior Club tournament at Frilford Heath in August.”
LEADING SCORES: 142 Oliver Clarke (Hillside) 72 70; 146 Luke Bartram (Rossendale) 71 75; 149 Luke Kelly (Ashton-under-Lyne) 80 69, James Broadbent (Fairhaven) 78 71, Alex Walker (Manchester) 73 76.
