GOSFIELD Lake Golf Club hosted Essex's best under-18 golfers when it hosted the 2016 Essex County Boys Foursomes Championship.

With an early rain shower to greet the competitors, the weather improved and the sun came out for the 28 pairs representing 20 clubs across the county.

Chelmsford Golf Club's Joshua Coleman and Nathan Parrish, virtually two scratch golfers, played impressive golf over two rounds of the Lakes course.

After the morning round, they led with an excellent score of 72 strokes.

With the wind picking up, their steady play continued in the afternoon.

And with a score of 80 strokes for a 152 total, they clinched the Championship.

Stoke-by-Nayland duo Sam Nixon and Alex English were one shot behind to finish as runners-up, after cutting their morning deficit by three shots in the afternoon.

Langdon Hills' Harry Moncur and Harry Wood were third on 159 strokes.

The Gosfield Lake team of Max Maynard and Piers Halley could not repeat their strong result of last year.

They finished 21st in the championship, with a score of 179 strokes.

At age 16, Maynard still has a number of years to compete in this event while 12-year-old Halley has many more years to develop his talent in future county events.

Essex County Golf Union president Mike Hart presented the Boys Foursomes trophy to the Chelmsford pair, assisted by Gosfield Lake vice-captain Ernie Cable.