COUNTY junior player Graham Mitton coped best in the windswept conditions at Darwen to take the East Lancashire Golf Association junior championship.

The 17-year-old, who works in the professional's shop at Accrington and has caddied for Trevor Foster in an Open Championship final qualifier, shot a superb round of 72.

His four-over-par total was four better than runner-up John Cockroft of Nelson, who earlier this year enjoyed an excellent run in the Harold Ryden Trophy.

A shot further back was Gareth Gillatt who had a fine 77.

Mitton, who plays off four, has been a member of the ELGA junior team for over four years.

An 11-handicapper, Anthony Harwood of Blackburn, won the nett prize, shooting a tremendous 73 for a 62 nett. This comfortably beat Darwen 20-handicapper Steven Collins' total of 68 nett and Whalley's Richard Whalley, a 24-handicapper, who recorded a 69 nett.

The champion, Mitton, was involved in ELGA Juniors' excellent win over Fylde on his home course, Accrington, in the Lancashire Junior Championship.

They trounced the visitors 13-4 and never looked back after winning five of the opening six foursomes matches.

There were wins for Mitton and Nathan Ward, Preedy and Ashton, Martin Cane and Nick Kennedy, Chris Bracewell and Anthony Keenan and Mark Worden and Martin Counsell.

The ELGA juniors also won eight singles matches, with Preedy, Ashton, Ward, Cane, Allison, Craig Ashton, Bracewell and Keenan securing the points.

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