COLCHESTER Golf Club’s juniors produced a great performance to win the Inter-Club Youth Shield Scratch Final, at Clacton Golf Club.

The team of five beat Abridge 3-2 on matches on a breezy, sunny autumnal morning, in a closely-contested match.

Charley Hatley took on board the unenviable task of finishing off the final, after the four matches ahead of her were evenly split.

Having lost out in the final last year, the team under the watchful eye of Russell Storey were in no mood to accept defeat.

They collectively put in a great performance to take the Shield last won by Colchester, in 2001.

Going out in handicap order in the scratch final, Dan Nicholls unexpectedly took a hit and went down 6&4 to Harvey Sullivan.

This was quickly equalised when after leading all the way, Max Maynard finished off his opponent Matthew O’Connor 5&4.

With Colchester’s Cai James losing out on the 18th two down playing Lewis Wright, the pressure quickly turned to the last two matches.

Both the Colchester players were ahead and Josh Coleman soon evened up the match scores, putting away Freddie Orwell 4&2 and levelling the scores.

Hatley knew when she was two holes up with three to play that it would be down to her to bring the tie home.

But she had to beat George Halleybone who suddenly took on a new lease of life.

Halleybone won the 16th hole and after both players bogeyed the par-three 17th and Hatley lipping out on the 18th, the match had to go into extra holes.

They approached the green sensibly on the par-five first extra hole with Hatley’s ball being the closest by some distance.

She and the 40-plus spectators watched Halleybone leave his ball short.

And although Hatley’s putt lipped out again, she had the luxury of seeing her opponent do likewise giving her and the rest of the team the win and the match.