You can 'earn' 7000 ore more points from County and Midland events - Chris Evans was this good in the first year and Andy Sullivan not far behind in 2005. In 2010 Patrick Skakel scored 4375 points, beating Ryan Wallace by 1000. Patrick had a good year winning the Boys and being Runner-Up in the Schools.

The rewards for playing well in Junior Opens are also high - if you play well, Rob Browning was imperious when he won the JOM. He posted near 6000 points in this category (win well gross and nett in 10 events and we think a target of 8000 points is possible). This year's best was Louie Pett (4750) some 600 points ahead of Alex Bagnell.

If you dominate your club events, you can score 4900 points. Only one player got close to this in 2010 and that was Andrew Scott from Hearsall.

Each year we measure the handicap drop and the percentage this represents - this year the average handicap drop was 3.6 shots and as a percentage the figure was 37%. Both are above the average for the history but this improvement came from virtually all the qualifiers this year, rather than around half the 20 or so who make it through to the JOM Championships. That is why it was so tight.

One very young player stood out for his success - Tom Charley from Stoneleigh. He did well in five notable events away from his club and dropped his handicap 60% - 19 shots. The record for high placing is held jointly by Alex Bagnall and way back in year one, Matthew West.

This year there were 14 players who could win. The JOM Championship is weighted to be a true one round decider unless a player has had an outstanding year (and we mean outstanding). A good lead will have to be defended at any stage of a player's career - whether it be for a major amateur or a professional win - or even playing for an obscene $10M. Our JOM is there to give this experience.

Thirteen players had to win (a handful place Top 3) to knock leader pre the JOM Championship Ryan Wallace off the top spot. It was many more than in the history of the JOM because so many had good years. Like any leader (of a tournament) Ryan had the opportunity to decide his own fate but a + handicap would mean he needed a round of level par (from the history of scores in the Championship itself) to wipe out most's chances.

The qualifiers - and it is the elite field of the year - play in points total groups, so Ryan could see his nearest competition. The same was true in the last three groups where each one of the four knew exactly what and how the player scoring lowest in their group could or would affect the overall results - and then try to respond.

Tom Charley, Alex Bagnall, and Jamie Slater all broke 18 stabelford points for the front nine but the players applying the most pressure were Michael Pell (Defending Champion) and Luke Allen, with 20 points. Until the 8th. Ryan Wallace was as good with three birdies in a row from the 5th. He then missed from 15 ft at the toughest hole on the course then three putted from just about the same distance at the 9th.

Ryan responded with a birdie at the 10th, made a hash of the par three 11th then birdied the 12th. It was still 'game on'.

Michael birdied the same two holes as Ryan, to go with two more on the the 4th and 5th. He came to the 18th on a run of five pars then hit across the water to the 18th to barely 6 ft. He is becoming day by day more and more like a 'vicious' Nick Price in swing style and tempo. Price's putting stroke was fearsome but Micheal's birdie attempt wasn't. He would finish with 40 points and good enough for 2nd in the JOM Championship.

Luke meanwhile had made a 'horlicks' of the 12th and didn't score there but he birdied the 15th, parred the next two and then he too hit the 18th. His birdie putt dropped so that was a back nine of 20 points and a total of 41. Luke would win the JOM Championship and so make Ryan have to par in.

Pars at the 13th, 14th and 15th were there. He did though score nothing at the 16th and then made a bogey at the 17th. A par the 18th and he was knocked off top spot.

''You deserve that. You played really well', said a Jack Nicklaus like Ryan to Luke afterward.

'I beat you gross and I won this', laughed Luke to his older brother George as he clutched the trophy.

'That was so close to defending', said Michael, ruing his miss at the last.

As ever The West Midlands Golf club and were brilliant hosts and their course proved an excellent test. Thanks go to Titleist for help with providing the more than ?1000 of prizes on offer.

The JOM table will be updated this week. These are the prize winners on the day -

JOM CHAMPIONSHIP

1st - Luke Allen - 41 points

2nd - Michael Pell - 40 points

3rd - JAmie Calvert - 37 points

The Overall JOM

3rd - Alex Bagnall - 6975

2nd - Ryan Wallace - 7025

1st - Luke Allen - 7760