ROYAL WINCHESTER teenager Chris Kilgannon upheld Hampshire's great tradition in the prestigious McEvoy Trophy.

Back in the 1990s David Porter and Justin Rose won what is regarded as one of the premier competitions for young golfers in the UK.

And at Copt Heath last week, 17-year-old Kilgannon was just one shot away from emulating them.

The Hampshire Colt was neck-and-neck with the halfway leader Tom Hunter from Ilford and pre-event favourite Rhys Davies from Wales going down the finishing straight.

Kilgannon felt he was in with a real chance, especially after the 16th where Hunter bogeyed and Davies took a six, despite both being perfectly placed in the middle of the fairway after solid drives.

In the end, however, 17-year-old Hunter edged home by one shot with Kilgannon and Davies tied for second place.

Standards in The McEvoy are climbing every year and the handicap cut-off for last week's event was 1.7.

Kilgannon's scores of 71, 72, 69 and 76 at Copt Heath mean that his own handicap has now been reduced to plus one.