NICK Dougherty has the world at his feet after his stunning finish in the World Boys' Team Championship at the weekend clinched the biggest victory of his career so far.

After a season of near misses, all eyes were on the 17-year-old as he went into the championships in Japan needing a big result.

And when the pressure was on, the ice-cool former QEGS pupil didn't disappoint, reeling off an eagle and two birdies over the last four holes, to help England retain the World Boys' team title as well as clinching the individual award for himself.

Now the Shaw Hill ace can concentrate on fine-tuning his game over the rest of the season before a serious assault on the big-time.

"It's the greatest thing I've achieved so far, and to do it in the way I did, makes it even more special," said Dougherty.

"The last major trophy I won was the Henriques Salver at the Brabazon last year.

"I've been performing well since then and my handicap has also been coming down as well, so I've always been up there.

"But there's a difference between playing well, and playing well and winning.

"It was crucial that I won something like this - it's bigger than anything I could have won over here.

"And now I know I can win at that kind of level, I should be really confident playing back home."

Dougherty was neck-and-neck with Korean Kim Duo-Suob for the individual title going into the final round, as England held a comfortable lead in the team event over Canada. But the England captain, who was two-over after 13, then suddenly got the message that the United States team had made a late charge from nowhere.

Dougherty showed his stunning pedigree, though, by reeling off an eagle and two birdies in a sensational finish and then clinched both titles in style by sinking an 18ft putt on the 18th.

"Obviously, in the individual event I felt the pressure a bit because the guy I was tied with shot exactly the same scores as me over the first three rounds.

"But as far as the team event went, I didn't really feel the pressure at the start of the last round because we had a bit of breathing space.

"By the 13th, though, I hadn't made any birdies and then our coach, Roy Case, came and told me that America were catching us.

"So I managed to turn it on and Roy walked with me for the last few holes."

Ironically, Dougherty had struggled with his putting in the run up to the championship.

But his change in luck coincided with a change in putter just weeks before he jetted out to Japan.

When family friend Ray Ingram sadly died a decade ago, his widow gave Nick's dad, Roger, his putter as a keepsake.

It remained proudly on show in the Dougherty's study until a couple of weeks ago when Nick had a go with it and putted brilliantly.

By kind permission of Mrs Ingram, he then took it with him to Japan. It did the trick in stunning style, culminating in that amazing finish on the 18th green. "That was a special moment for me," said Dougherty.

"I'd seen how our boys had done and I was more or less sure we had it in the bag by then.

"But as soon as I hit that putt I knew it was right in the middle of the hole all the way.

"I didn't see it go in, though, because I'd already set off on a lap of honour."

Now Dougherty, who had another lesson with John Powell from the Faldo Junior Series at Royal Birkdale yesterday, has his sights set on appearing in the mini Ryder Cup in Boston later this year.

He needs to finish in the top two at the European Boys' Championship in Sweden next month in order to qualify.

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