Oxford City's scratch golfer Clive Bowler reached the pinnacle of his career by winning the Berks Bucks and Oxon Amateur Championship at Gerrards Cross.

Bowler, 26, battled through wet and windy conditions during the final two rounds to finish on a one-under-par-total of 275.

He finished three shots clear of his nearest rivals, Simon Maynard (Sonning) and Kevin Freeman (Stoke Park).

Clive Bowler holds up the Berks, Bucks and Oxon cup

A brilliant four-under-par 65 in the second round gave Bowler a one-shot lead over Maynard at the halfway stage.

Appalling weather conditions on Saturday made completion of the two-day event nearly impossible.

But sterling work by the greenstaff with co-operation of competitors resulted in creditable completion of 72 holes.

It was a closely-contested final round, but a birdie at the difficult 15th sealed Bowler's victory.

Bowler, who lives in Tetsworth and now plays off an official +0.5 handicap, was slightly surprised by his success.

"I've never really featured in this championship before, but my short game was very good," he said

The rewards of his success are immediate.

In addition to receiving his first call-up for the BBandO side for the County Championships, he will also represent the three counties in the County Champions Tournament at Woodhall Spa in September.

Bowler, who lives in Tetsworth, joined Oxford City from Bremhill as a junior in 1989 and quickly established himself as a dedicated and formidable golfer.

He won the Oxfordshire Junior Championship three times, while he has been club champion at Southfield for five out of the past six years.

He is Oxford City's first BB andO champion since the late Fred Reed in the 1950

Earlier in the week, Bowler, who works two days a week in the professional's shop at Badgmore Park GC, Henley, finished runner-up to Jeff Harris (Reading) in the Frilford Heath Gold Medal after rounds of 72 and 68.

The next best placed local golfer at Gerrards Cross was Magnolia Park's James Lawson, who came tenth on 286. His 68 in the second round won him the prize for the best Friday afternoon round.

One place further back came Frilford Heath's Matthew Haddy, who finished on 291.

He won the prize for the best Friday morning round with his level-par 69.

Scores: 275 C Bowler (Oxford City) 69, 65, 70, 71. 278 S Maynard (Sonning) 65, 70, 70, 73; K Freeman (Stoke Park) 69, 70, 72, 67. 280 G Harris (Reading) 72, 74, 69, 65; M Housego (Gerrards Cross) 70, 76, 68, 66; B Smith (E Berks) 71, 69, 67, 73. Other scores: 286 J Lawson (Magnolia Park) 73, 68, 72, 73. 291 M Haddy (Frilford Heath) 69, 73, 77, 72. 299 P Spence (Oxfordshire) 70, 77, 79, 73. 302 A Sheffield (Brailes) 72, 75, 80, 75.

Missed cut: 150 A Walton (Frilford) 73, 77; M Briggs (Frilford) 74, 76. 151 D Yates (Lyneham) 76, 75. 153 D Hunt (Friford) 77, 76; F Hoekzema (Hadden Hill) 80, 73; D Summers (Oxford City) 79, 74.

Picture: Antony Moore