Paul Marshall of Sale of Golf Club is celebrating after triumphing in the inaugural American Golf Junior Championship at De Vere Mottram Hall.

The 17-year-old recorded 42 points and narrowly edged out Girls’ Champion Libby Kilbridie, 11,  who birdied two of her final three holes, on countback.

More than 100 junior golfers from across the country, aged between seven and 18, took part in an event hailed as a resounding success by all involved.

In the gross competition, four-handicapper Matthew Payne beat James Abbey on countback after both signed for impressive 75s at the popular Warrington venue.

Joe Hartshore reigned supreme in the 29-54 handicap category while Ben Heywood came through a tense sudden-death play-off to win the Ping Putting Championship.

The Ping Star of the Future Award – for golfers aged 10 years and younger – went to seven-year-old Stanley Lin from Telford Golf Club.

“Nothing could have prepared us for for the incredible response we had to our first ever Junior Club Championship,” said Daniel Gathercole, Head of Marketing at American Golf.

“We were inundated with entries from players of all ages and abilities, so much so that we had a reserve list.

“We were really impressed by the standard of golf and sportsmanship that all the players showed and can’t wait to start developing our plans to take this event to the next level in 2015.”