Stefan posted a 77 to join another Copt Heath junior Elliott Garside one shot off the lead, with The Warwickshire's George Gill one shot back on 78, alongside Nuneaton's Ryan James. No-one else broke 80 so for the clear favourite for the day, Max Martin, it had to have been a disastrous start - which it was.

Max came back from a very much needed holiday two days before and had got in a few holes at Copt Heath yesterday , having left his clubs behind him to enjoy time on the beach in Majorca after a Summer of golf. He started as if his handicap was 12 rather than 2, or even 22 as he rattled off bogey after bogey for his first nine.

Max would eventually card an 80 and he could not make up the four shots he found himself back from Stefan when Stefan birdied the 2nd of his final nine holes -

'It was so hard to get enough spin on the ball to be able to attack the pins- you had to run it up and I just haven't played for two weeks', said Max

Max was playing in a very rare trio of all left handed golfers. One of his partners was Ryan James who has dropped three shots from his handicap this summer, notably with a gross 70 in the Hearsall Junior Open, and a young man un-flustered by being in contention until the final hole when he had to hole from 5ft to eventually beat Martin for the Runner's-Up spot -

'Yep - I was very nervous over that putt', he before the prize giving.

Stefan had known he was ahead for all of the last nine but there was one player who came closest to challenging him for the U14s. Having shown lots of form at the U18s Boys Championships just two weeks before, Elliot Garside came to the last green needing two putts to post +11, with Stefan in the clubhouse on +8.

One of his partners had hit a provisional shot onto the green and Elliott thought he was knocking it back to him as it was not now needed. It was in actual fact the ball in play so having delved deep into the Rule Book, the Warwickshire Union officials added a two shot penalty to Elliott's score. On the day the penalty stood to confirmed by the R&A as soon as possible but their offices were closed by the time the decision had to be ratified.

'I had to call it on myself', said Elliott, 'I've had penalties a couple of times this summer.'

Elliott will learn (like many) from making a mistake but must be recognised for his attitude in asking if he had made a mistake and accepting the results with a wry smile.

POSTSCRIPT TO THE RULING : Thursday 18th August The R&A have come back to the Warwickshire Union and reversed the Penalty -

The statement from them was: Due to his actions being as a courtesy to his fellow competitor and he was not seeking any benefit by carrying out the act, no penalty is incurred.

Elliot's Voucher will be 'topped up' and he will be awarded a Bronze Medal for his 2nd place.

The same sort of smile was on Stefan's face when he thought about what his parent's would say about his win -

'They will be very happy - that I managed to beat Max - and everyone.'

The U12s title went to Rugby Golf Club, to one of their 'production line' of very good young golfers in Tom Cleaton. Tom added a 41 (+6) to his first round of 80 to take home the John Jewsbury Trophy. Tom can now aim for the U14s in the next three years and then onwards for the U16s and U18s, just like Stefan. There are a number of other Rugby juniors who could be of the quality that is Copt Heath's domain - for now - and for the next few years, you can expect the Warwickshire Boys Team to be young, and very talented.

To see a full list of scores (corrected on the basis of the R&A ruling) CLICK HERE

A larger Picture Gallery will be added shortly