Bishop’s Stortford High School student Ben Sessions wins South East of England under-18 boys’ title

Ben Sessions came through a tense play-off to be crowned South East of England under-18 boys’ champion on his home turf.

The Bishop’s Stortford Golf Club member got the better of Haiden Matos to lift the trophy at the Dunmow Road club.

There was a field of 72 for the 36-hole competition, with most of the top boy golfers from the south-east - Norfolk to Sussex - taking part.

Sessions began the tournament by seeing his tee shot collide with a tree, which resulted in a double-bogey six.

But that was the only blemish on his morning scorecard as he made five birdies for a round of 68, putting him one shot behind leader Matos, of Dartford Golf Club.

The Bishop’s Stortford High School student found birdies difficult to come by in the afternoon, but a level-par 71 was sufficient to catch Matos and force a play-off.

Sessions fluffed a chip from inches off the green on the first extra hole, but drew applause from the watching crowd moments later by holing the resulting five-foot putt.

Further drama ensued when Matos’ downhill putt for victory, from a similar distance, horseshoed out of the hole.

Both players’ tee shots landed in almost identical positions on the fairway on the second extra hole and Sessions claimed a par four, which earned him the title as Matos could not match it.

Sessions went into the event having played 36 holes on both the previous two days when finishing 11th in the prestigious Lagonda Trophy at Gog Magog Golf Club in Cambridge.