COLCHESTER Royal Grammar School's Daniel Nicholls produced a superb performance to reach the final of the St Andrews Boys’ Open.

The talented 14-year-old, who is a member at Colchester Golf Club, did exceptionally well before being beaten 3/1 in the final.

It was a fine achievement by Nicholls, who became the youngest player to progress as far in the tournament.

The format sees players compete in a 18-hole stroke play-off on the Eden course white tees for qualification into final 32 matchplay.

The preliminary round was a scratch stroke play event, over the Eden course.

The competition was open to all 17-year-old juniors from around the world and 140 players took part, with the top 32 qualifying for a matchplay knockout over three days.

Nicholls won the scratch stroke event with a gross score of 67.

It helped him qualify in first place for the knockout stages and he played three match play games on the Eden course against strong players from Scotland, France and Germany.

In all his matches, he birdied the 18th to win.

In the semi-final, Nicholls played a member of St Andrews who was three years older on the actual Old Course off the back tees.

He recorded a score of six under par and in a quite incredible match, won 3/1.

Nicholls had made six birdies and 11 pars through 17 holes.

In the final he came up against a 17-year-old Japanese tour player who had twice been the boys’ World Champion and had competed five times on the main Japanese professional tour.

Nicholls was unfortunate to lose 3/1 in the prestigious event, in which nearly 150 boys from all over the world participate in.

It has a very impressive array of past winners including Michael Campbell, Chris Wood and Matthew Fitzpatrick.