TEAM USA won the Tiger Cup for the first time at Broome Manor Golf Club last weekend when talented young players contested the annual competition last weekend.

The event is sponsored and organised by PGA professional Lee Hayward, who set up the tournament years ago to help give the local juniors something to look forward to and play for each year.

In a format similar to the Ryder Cup, 24 junior players were invited to take part in this year’s event held over two days, which saw foursomes and fourball matches followed by singles contests.

Team Europe have won the event in each of the first five years, but Team USA took the spoils for the first time with a 14-10 victory.

Event organiser Hayward said: “I am so happy with the way the Tiger Cup went this year.

“When I first thought about this event six years ago, I wanted to give the children an event to really look forward to each season – just like the Ryder Cup.

“I wanted it to be special and the players to be treated like Tour professionals in a fun style format of matchplay.

“I am very proud of what we have achieved in this event and a massive thank you to all sponsors and volunteers that have just made it bigger and better every year.

“The players even received a gala dinner video message from former European Ryder Cup player David Howell wishing them all good luck for the weekend, which was really nice for all the players involved.”

The competition got under way in chilly conditions on Saturday and there was plenty of good play on show as the six foursomes matches ended level at 3-3.

Fourball matches took centre stage in the afternoon and Team USA just had the better of the action, taking a one-point lead at 6.5-5.5 going into the singles matches.

Sunday’s finale saw good golf player throughout the day, but Team USA managed to edge further ahead by winning seven of the 12 matches to lift the Tiger Cup for the first time.