SOME of north Hampshire’s top young golfers took full advantage of excellent conditions to compete in the seventh Basingstoke Schools Golf Competition.

The event was won by Matt Rawlings from The Clere School, who amassed a massive total of 43 Stableford points on a beautiful sunny day at Weybrook Park Golf Club.

However, spare a thought for second-placed man Ryan Tarling from Testbourne Community School , who was denied victory on countback after finishing level with Rawlings.

The nearest the pin competition was won by Josh Farnham of Everest Community College, while Testbourne’s Aiden Boxall recorded the longest drive on the day. The team title was won by Testbourne, who beat The Clere into second place.

For the first time the competition was opened up to novice golfers, who took part in a golf lesson with Weybrook Park professional Steve Cox and then a nine-hole competition on the academy course. It is hoped that next year all of these competitors will be entering the full competition.

The runner-up in the novice event was The Vyne’s Jake Fincken, who lost out by one shot to Nick Green from Bishop Challoner.