BROADSTONE'S Luke Joy became the first Dorset winner of the South of England Boys' 72-hole championship at Sherborne and Yeovil since Weymouth's Ben Welch eight years ago.

And he did so at a canter by beating Swindon's Joe Johnson (Broome Manor) by an impressive six shots with a four-round total of 282.

The Dorset county regular, who has just turned 17, was eighth last year. He described his tournament as "weird". He said: "I played rubbish in the first round when I shot two over at Sherborne and then scored four-under 68.

"The same happened at Yeovil on the second day - a par first round and then four-under 68. But it was a good win because the standard is always good although I did not play consistently."

Corfe Hills student Joy, who plays off scratch, led by two strokes from Ben Loughrey (Wrag Barn) after the first day and extended a two-stroke lead after the third round to six.

It was a perfect preparation for this week's British Boys championship at Hunstanton.

He has been spending his summer holiday playing golf. He was 18th in the Carris Trophy from rounds of 74, 73, 76 and 76 and lost at the final hole in the first round of the English Amateur at Bromborough.

The strong field comprised more than 60 competitors from 50 clubs across the South East and South West of England.

The Under-15 winner was Steve Hodgson from Sunningdale with a four-round total of 290.

Results: 282 Luke Joy (Broadstone) 74 68 72 68. 288 Joe Johnson (Broome Manor) 75 74 70 69, 289 Tom Hayes (West Byfleet) 75 74 75 65, Ben Loughrey (Wrag Barn) 72 71 74 72. 290 Joe Campbell (Cotswold Hills) 75 75 71 69, Steve Hodgson (Sunningdale) 72 79 69 70. Dan Smith (Parkstone) was ninth on 294 (74 77 68 75).

Parkstone's Dorset county player Dan Smith, 17, could soon be battling it out in Dubai in the Daily Telegraph Junior Golf championship.

After carding 70 to win his qualifying round at Parkstone, he will learn next month whether he has earned a place in the final at Dubai Creek in October.

Occasional golfer Rod Davis finds himself in a dilemma because he is playing so well.

The manager of the Iford Golf Centre has reached top form in the two West Region order of merit tournaments played this season and is challenging a high place in the order of merit.

The leading five play in the Celtic Manor Wales Open while the top two compete in the European Tour's main event, the BMW at Wentworth.

After finishing third in the Welsh Masters at Marriott St Pierre last week, and fifth in the Wood-BMW Classic at Dudsbury, 36-year-old Davis has climbed into third place.

He said after finishing on three-under-par 210 from rounds of 69. 70 and 71: "I am not sure whether I can spare the time to play in the next event as work takes priority and Iford is very busy."

The cheque for £1,425 was larger than he might have expected for the shock winner was Welsh international Llewellyn Matthews who became the first amateur ever to win a professional PGA tournament in Wales and the West.

So Devon's Jon Langmead (Exminster) took the first professional's prize of £1,800 with Davis second.

Davis, who played alongside Carl Jessup (Knighton Heath) and Matthews in the final group, said: "He played super golf and never looked like dropping a shot.

"I had a good week and played well - but not quite well enough."

It was the first time Jessup had teed-off last in a tournament, reward for returns of 70 and 69. But he plummeted to 14th after a final 76.

Langmead has now overtaken Lee Thompson in the order of merit. He is 16 points behind on 473 with Davis on 430.

Thompson redeemed an indifferent start with an impressive closing 68.

As a result, he climbed to share fourth with Andrew Sherborne (Kendleshire) and Matt Dearden (The Vale) on 211 after starting the day in an eight-way tie for 13th after 70 and 73. He won £880.

He said: "I didn't play well at the start and everything was a struggle.

"I didn't feel comfortable over my shots and made too many mistakes.

"But when you are playing badly you still need to make a score and I haven't done mega-damage to my prospects of winning the order of merit again."

His pal and club colleague Mark Wiggett continues to experience a merely ordinary season. He was again struggling and shared 17th with scores of 73 73 and 71.

Selected scores: 26th 220 Graham Howell (Ferndown Forest) 74 74 72. 30th 221 David Miles (Meyrick Park) 73 73 75.