TALENTED Ricky Blaxill is poised to be enshrined in Essex golfs Hall of Fame, writes Dick Turner.

Wansteads scratch handicapper has added the Chigwell Bowl the countys Under 25 Championship to his fast growing list of triumphs.

Rounds of 72 and 76 in tough conditions were sufficient to clinch the 36-hole competition by two shots, despite a double bogey six on the ninth his last hole.

Blaxill declared: That could have been a card wrecker but I knew I had it in the bag because someone told me how many shots I was in front before I played the last hole.

Ricky, 19, who lives in Brindwood Road, Chingford Mount, was a member of Woodford Golf Club, before he joined Wanstead four years ago and is now hot favourite to win the Essex Amateur Championships next month.

He said: The Championship is at Chigwell this year and that is a lucky course for me, so I might stand a good chance.

But at the moment all Im thinking about is the Romford Trophy this weekend and then the Brabazon a national event where Ive never made the cut.

Two lessons with teaching pro Mike Leitch at Scott Cranfields Golf Academy in Walthamstow have triggered Blaxills brilliant burst of form.

He added: We worked on a few things in my swing as well as putting technique and it seemed to have paid big dividends.

I plan to go to Tour School this autumn to try to get my card, but if that fails Ill probably get a job in the city, because I can never imagine myself as a club pro.

Results: Chigwell Bowl: First, Blaxill 148; Second Glen Hooper (Ballards Gore) 150; Third, Richard McEvoy (Thorpe Hall) 151. Handicap Prize: Marcus Radmore (Wanstead) 143 nett.

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