The 24th Norfolk Schools’ Championships were held at Eaton Golf Club on Wednesday on a bitterly cold morning with a biting northeast wind.

But despite the inclement weather there was some impressive golf played, with some particularly good nett scores.

The overall standard of golf was excellent and it was pleasing to see so many younger players taking part, which bodes well for the future of golf in Norfolk.

And once again the county bucked the national trend by having 19 girls taking part.

Mason Bernstein of King’s Lynn Academy and Eve Neild of Thorpe St Andrew School were this year’s individual champions.

With a three over par 73 Mason won the championship for the first time, having only recently moved to Norfolk from overseas. His closest challengers were Casey Patterson (Cromer Academy) and Conal Downing (East Norfolk Sixth Form), who both recorded 75s, with Casey taking second place on countback.

Eve’s two over par 75 was good enough to land the girls’ title, with her sister Hope (Sir Isaac Newton Six Form) well back in second place on 82.

The Handicap champions were Harvey Fisher of Norwich School with a nett 63 off 17 handicap and Rebecca Chesterman of Alderman Peel High with a nett 66 off 27 handicap. They won by three and seven shots respectively.

The U14 Boys’ Championship was won by Luke Johnson of Litcham High with a nett 67 off 28 handicap while Chloe Tarbard won the U14 Girls’ Championship with a nett 67 off 15 handicap.

The team prize went to Norwich School with an aggregate score of 142 and Joe Ford, George Sommerville and Harvey Fisher will now go forward to represent their county in the national final at Woodhall Spa Golf Club in July.

Norfolk has a good record in this event, having won in 2006 at Clitheroe Golf Club and again in 2015 at Woodhall Spa.

The trophies were presented jointly by Chris Taylor, president of the Norfolk County Golf Union, and Heather Keeble, president of the Norfolk Ladies’ County Golf Association.

Eve will be one of four girls shortly to be announced who will represent Norfolk in the South East Schools’ Championships at Flackwell Heath Golf Club, High Wycombe, on May 31st.

Find full results here