Dereham golfer Jake Gunby recorded a brilliant high-profile triumph in the Skevington Salver at The Millbrook Club.

Gunby finished top of the pile at the prestigious Under-16s tournament, which featured a string of talented players from Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire and Essex.

A late-afternoon storm led to the event being decided over 18 holes instead of 27 and Gunby’s gross level-par total of 76 at the Bedfordshire venue left him victorious – just.

He edged out Essex’s Oliver McEvoy on countback, thanks to an afternoon nine-hole tally of 38, one better than the runner-up.

Gunby, 15, said: “It means so much – to win an event like this is just really big.

“It’s definitely my best achievement of the year so far. I just plotted my way round, not making silly mistakes.”

Among the highlights of Gunby’s round was a cool birdie on the final hole of his morning round. He fizzed in a lob wedge to three feet on the par-4 ninth and rolled home the putt.

Norfolk team-mate Jack Bennett also made a three at the same hole – and that would prove telling in the race to record the best net score.

The Royal Norwich golfer confirmed: “I holed a putt from off the green – that probably won me it.”

Bennett, whose handicap index is 8.8, ended up with a net three-under par tally to emerge successful by a single shot.

Bennett, 16, said: “I’m very happy. I wasn’t expecting to win, that’s for sure. I was just trying to play different courses and get some experience, so to win is a bonus.”

It was almost a clean sweep for Norfolk, who finished second in the team event. Their overall score of 471 left them just two shots behind winners Essex.

Norfolk’s success builds on last year’s achievement in the same event when Theo Pudney took top spot and Ed Luther bagged the net prize.

Norfolk Under-16s: Jack Bennett (Royal Norwich), Liam Caffyn (Dereham), Tibet Demirsoy (Dereham), Luke Gilding (Royal Norwich), Jake Gunby (Dereham), Toby Lewin (Bawburgh), Edward Luther (King’s Lynn), Louie Raine (Royal Norwich).