NORFOLK’S UNDER-16 golfers are through to the south-east regional finals after emerging victorious from their triangular series with Suffolk and Bedfordshire.

The final matches between the three counties took place at South Beds Golf Club and Norfolk ventured to the Luton venue holding a narrow advantage in the mini league.

The host county offered stiff opposition, but Norfolk’s eight-man team finally got the better of them 4.5 – 3.5 after a difficult start.

Quin Monaghan powered to a convincing win, Harry Thomas and Jake Gunby secured narrow victories – and Jamison Gray showed his battling qualities to claim a vital half point on the final green.

But it was Theo Pudney who took Norfolk over the line with a hard-fought 1-up success after he’d been two down with five holes to play.

The clash with Suffolk was a much more one-sided affair in which Norfolk eventually ran out 6.5 – 1.5 victors.

Monaghan, Thomas, Gunby and Pudney again recorded respective triumphs, while Sully Goddard and Max Cutting also chalked up wins. Will Cutting clinched a half in his match to contribute to the emphatic margin of victory.

Norfolk Under-16s coach Ryan Pudney said: “I can’t speak highly enough of this group and how impressed I have been by them during the season.

“At South Beds they represented the county impeccably – both the spirit with which they supported one another during the course of the afternoon and the overall camaraderie in practice and at dinner the night before.”

Norfolk will now face Essex and either Surrey or Sussex in October 1’s regional finals, which will be staged at Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club.