TOP junior golfers from southern counties, including Kent, competed in torrential rain to get on the leaderboard for a competition where the finalists play in Dubai.

Youngsters from Kent, Essex, Surrey and Sussex congregated at Woodlands Manor Golf Club in Sevenoaks for the Woodlands Junior Open, which is a qualifier for the Daily Telegraph Junior Golf Championship held at the Dubai Creek course in October.

The overall winner was Dan Brown, a member at Biddenden's Chart Hills. He shot a gross 73 to beat runner-up Darren Timms (Mid Kent) by two strokes.

Brown said: "I played as well as the conditions allowed. I hope to go on and make a career of golf after sixth form studies."

Resident professional Phil Womack said: "The course might have been playable but the conditions were dire and everyone did very well just to get round."