New junior academies at Studley Wood, Hadden Hill and Witney Lakes are part of a pioneering programme set up by the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Golf Partnership.

The BB&O region is the first in England to introduce junior academies with structured coaching to fast-track talented youngsters.

They will be officially launched on Sunday.

Each academy will hold two sessions on the six coaching days set aside in March, April, May, September, October and November.

Nine clubs in the thre counties are taking part in the scheme, which is being overseen by BB&O head coach John Cook, of Witney Lakes.

More than 180 boys and girls, aged from nine to 16, will pass through the academies this year.

Eddie Pepperell finished 11 shots off the pace in the Portuguese Amateur Championship at Troia after a poor final round.

The Drayton Park member, 18, shot a 76 after opening with 72 and 73 for a 221 total.

Phil Hickman and Ivan Curtis won Bicester’s Winter League after a dramatic finale.

Only six points separated the top 20 going into the last round, with Hickman and Curtis a point behind leaders Simon Wakefield and Glen McFarlane.

But a score of 40 was enough to land the title by 1.34 shots.