SHERBORNE St John’s Billy Watson was left to rue a poor final-day performance as he finished in a tie for 12th at the English Boys Under-18 Strokeplay Championship.

Watson travelled to Moor Park, in Hertfordshire, to contest the Carris Trophy and got off to a good start, carding an opening round of 72 (par).

A second round of 75 (+3) kept him in contention and he was two-under-par after 14 holes of his third round. A triple-bogey three at the 15th was a major setback and while he made birdie at the next, a bogey on 17 meant Watson had to settle for a one-over-par round of 73.

Despite his troubles, the North Hants member was just three shots off the leaders going into the final round. However, he was unable to make his move, a closing round of 78 (+5) meaning he had to settle for a share of 12th place on +10.

Sandford Springs’ Chris Blunden also competed at Moor Park, finishing in a share of 37th on +16.

Having shot 78 (+6) in the first round, Blunden bounced back to card a level-par second round of 72 and avoid the cut, before finishing with two rounds of 77 (+5).

A few days earlier, Blunden finished eighth at the South East Boys Championships over the same course, thanks to a two-over-par 36-hole total of 146.