NICK Dougherty took another huge step on his way to the top after playing a vital part in England's win at the World Junior Golf Championships in Japan.

The Shaw Hill ace kept his nerve in the final round to help England to their first ever victory in the competition at the sixth attempt.

The four-man team finished six shots ahead of second placed Japan at the end of the four day event.

But it had looked like going down to the wire as the gap was closed to just one shot with four holes of the final round still to play.

"It got very close at the end," said Dougherty.

"But we all finished very well and they bogied the last couple of holes so we managed to hold on.

"It was an absolutely tremendous achievement.

"We were up against some of the best young players in the world.

"And to be in the team that won it for England for the first time ever was great."

England were eight under par after the first day as Dougherty fired a magnificent two under par 70 and team mate Adam Frayne shot an even more impressive five under par 67.

Torrential rain caused havoc on the second day as Dougherty could only manage a 77. But two 74s and a 75 from his colleagues kept England in the frame.

A 70 from Dave Griffith and rounds of 73 and 75 from Frayne and Dougherty extended the lead to 10 shots going into the final day.

And despite a superb revival from the Japanese, Dougherty lead England to victory with a final round of 73 along with team mates Frayne (75) and Jamie Elson (77).

"It is definitely the best team win of my career so far," said the 16-year-old.

"I was very pleased with how I played especially considering I was probably the youngest player in the tournament. I was over-the-moon with my 70 in the opening round.

"And my 77 on the second day wasn't too bad considering the conditions.

"But my final round was my best because of the circumstances."

He is now gearing himself up for England's under 16 match with Italy on Monday.

Results - World Junior Championship: 874 England (A Frayne 67, 74, 73, 75); D Griffiths 71, 74, 70, 78; N Dougherty 70, 77, 75, 73; J Elson 82, 75, 77, 77. 880 Japan, 893 US, 896 Argentina, 903 Korea, 905 NZ, 908 Spain, 909 Canada. Individual: 286 R Echenique (Argentina) 70, 73, 69, 74; 289 Frayne, 290 T Fraser (Zimbabwe) 67, 77, 74, 72; 291; Y Miyazato (Japan) 69, 77, 74, 71; 293 Griffiths 71, 74, 70, 78; 295 Dougherty, 311 Elson.

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