LIAM CAFFYN celebrated his 15th birthday in style by winning the Norfolk Schools’ Boys’ Championship at Sprowston Manor Hotel and Country Club.

Caffyn, a pupil at Northgate High School in Dereham, shot a four-over-par round of 75 to secure a comfortable victory.

His total left him four strokes clear of Aylsham High School student Theo Pudney in a competition comprising 51 of the county’s aspiring young golfers.

Caffyn, whose official handicap index is 2.5, said: “From tee to green, that was the best I’ve played this year. I had a good swing thought in my head on the day – trying to have more tempo and just hitting the ball less hard.

“I played quite smart on some holes – ones where you’ve got to plot because the fairway bunkers are quite long and high-sided. I’d lay up short of them.”

Caffyn, Pudney, Quin Monaghan and Jake Gunby will head next to the South East Boys Championship, staged at Cainhoe Wood Golf Club in Bedfordshire on May 29.

Neathered High School duo Archie Miller and Tom Lewin won the team event and will represent Norfolk boys at the English Schools Championship at Woodhall Spa in July.

On the immediate horizon for Caffyn is this weekend’s County Foursomes at Heacham Manor Golf Club. Caffyn, who will be partnered by Gunby, has unfinished business with the tournament after he and fellow teenager Louie Hawes lost in the final 12 months ago.