CHIPPING Norton's Matt Johnson underlined his potential with an excellent performance in the BB&O Junior Championship at The Oxfordshire.

The 15-year-old, who is already Chippy's lowest handicapper on 0.5, finished second in the main event and won the under 16 comp- etition.

Rounds of 76 and 77 left him five shots behind winner Josh Kensit (Richings Park) on a wind and rain-affected course, which saw the standard scratch score increased to 75.

Johnson's total of 153 meant he pipped Frilford Heath's Andrew Tucker by two shots for the under 16 scratch title.

Home player Craig Hinton was just one off the pace following his morning round and became the early clubhouse leader.

Robert Hart (Castle Royle) shot a fine 75 in the afternoon to move one ahead on 155, but it was a two-horse for top spot.

Kensit reached the turn in two under par and a solid finish saw him card a level-par 72.

Johnson matched Kensit in the morning, but could only shoot a second-round 77.

Johnson, who won the BB&O's Under 16 Order of Merit in 2005, has been selected for the union's summer school in Portugal alongside clubmate Tom Woolley.

The Wychwood's Ben Cotton also had much to celebrate at The Oxfordshire after finishing second to Kensit, who plays off one, in the handicap competition.

Six-handicapper Cotton carded a second-round 77 to demonstrate his own pro- mise.

Having lost out to Frilford Heath's Eddie Pepperell by one shot in the BB&O Under 14 Championship last October, he too could be one to watch.

*CHIPPING Norton's Clare Reynolds carded a very respectable nett 73 to finish fourth in the BB&O Girls' Championship at Denham.

RESULTS Scratch: 1 J Kensit (Richings Park) 76+72=148, 2 M Johnson (Chipping Norton) 76+77=153, 3 R Hart (Castle Royle) 78+75=153.

Under 16 Scratch: 1 M Johnson 76+77=153, 2 A Tucker (Frilford Heath) 83+78=155.

Handicap: 1 J Kensit 75+71=146, 2 B Cotton (The Wychwood) 76+71=147.

Best Scratch morning: 1 C Hinton (The Oxfordshire) 77.

Best Handicap afternoon: 1 L Williams (Hadden Hill) 71.