Ryan Dixon enjoyed the biggest win of his career at the Welsh Open Youths at Wenvoe Castle near Cardiff.
Letchworth’s Jack Slater was second, three shots back, with Llandudno’s Rueben Bather in third, part of a strong home challenge with Prestbury’s Matthew Delaney 5th, Aberdovey’s Connor Owen and Delamere Forest’s James Ashfield part of a group tied sixth.
“I am pretty happy obviously, this is a big achievement for me,” said Dixon from County Durham. “It is the first event I have played since coming back from St Mary’s University, St Antonio in Texas, where I have just finished my first year.
“It is the first time I have won a national tournament so it is pretty much up there. I have learned so much about myself and managing my emotions in America.
“I was watching people beat themselves up and I was just staying patient, I didn’t have that control before I went to America so I am really enjoying it.
“I didn’t know I if I had a cushion or not and that is how I wanted it. I just wanted to stick to my game plan and it didn’t faze me what I needed to do.”
Dixon is hoping the victory could move him higher up the pecking order in England. “I have been part of the North of England coaching squad, I have not really been involved in the England set up,” he said.
“Hopefully that can come if I can build on this win. I take a lot of confidence from it and will take that into the next tournament, it is a boost going forward.
“I will go into that knowing I have a plan which hopefully can work.”
There was praise as well for the Wenvoe Castle course which hosted the Welsh Open Youths.
“It is a unique course, some tight holes, you need to hit the ball into the right spots or it can punish everybody,” added Dixon.
Wales Golf championships manager David Wilson added, “The Wenvoe Castle course was in great condition and provided a really good test for all the players.
“Congratulations to Ryan on what was a relatively comfortable win in the end, but it was also great to see some strong Welsh performances in such a strong field with four in the top nine and six in the top sixteen.
“There were competitors from Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland, but also from Germany, Switzerland, France and Russia so it was a truly international field.”