Chris White held his nerve to clinch a famous victory for Norfolk’s golfers over Anglian League defending champions Leicestershire & Rutland at Royal Norwich.

The hosts opened up a 3-1 lead in the morning foursomes but their position of strength was in danger of slipping away as the opposition staged a determined fightback in the singles games.

Jon Baker-Odlin and county captain Simon Clark put valuable points on the board for Norfolk, while Jack Cullington registered a half in his head-to-head.

But a clutch of clashes went the visitors’ way to leave the overall match score all-square with only White and his Leicestershire rival James Billingham to finish.

Hunstanton golfer White had been in dazzling form on the greens, single-putting on no less than eight straight holes from the seventh.

The hot streak helped him forge 2-up with just two holes to play. But further wizardry was required after his tee-shot bounced into a penalty area to the left of the green on the par-3 17th.

Norwich Evening News: Hunstanton golfer Chris White starred in Norfolk’s league victory over Leicestershire and Rutland. Picture: Rushmer PRHunstanton golfer Chris White starred in Norfolk’s league victory over Leicestershire and Rutland. Picture: Rushmer PR (Image: Rushmer PR)

With Billingham splashing out from sand to 10 feet, White’s third shot came to rest around half that distance away thanks to a sublime floated pitch.

Billingham’s par effort slid by the hole, leaving White to coolly close out his own 2&1 victory that also took Norfolk over the line with a 6.5-5.5 margin.

Clark said: “It’s great to win. 3-1 up at lunch, you’d take that any day. You’re just trying to get over the line then in the afternoon – which we did.

“Leicestershire are a very, very good side and they came back at us strong. So to beat them it’s all positive.”

The win meant Clark’s team are in with a shout of claiming the Anglian League title. Norfolk are one of a quartet of sides on four points and face Lincolnshire away next month and Cambridgeshire at home in September in their two remaining fixtures.

Norfolk: Simon Clark (Great Yarmouth & Caister), Jack Cullington (Dereham), Adam Sims (Royal Norwich), Charlie Roper (Mundesley), Jon Baker-Odlin (Hunstanton), Harry Thomas (Eaton), Simon Butts (Hunstanton), Chris White (Hunstanton).