By John Whitbread

Golfing brothers-in-arms Louis and Elliott Laville have combined forces to win a top trophy.

Seventeen-year-old Louis, and Elliot, 15, of Wimbledon, outgunned a strong field to win the Centenary Rose Bowl at the RAC Club, Epsom.

Fifteen pairs competed in the 18-hole fourball, betterball competition, with the Royal Wimbledon club duo winning a sudden-death play-off with Burhill, after both teams scored 42 points.

"It was really exciting, but very tense," said six handicapper Louis.

"The best part of it was how Elliot and I dovetailed so well. If one of us had a bad hole, the other one always managed to score. We did not have a failure to score on any hole."

Elliott, who plays off 17 handicap, said: "We just kept encouraging each other all the way round. It felt really great when we lifted the cup."

Golf has played a big part in the life of the brothers, who both started wielding cut-down clubs at the age of four, encouraged by their parents, Vic and Carolyn, who are also keen players.

The boys both earned sports scholarships at Reeds School, Cobham, which produced British tennis ace Tim Henman.

Louis, currently junior captain at Royal Wimbledon, won the Hankley Common Open Junior Stableford earlier this year and was also part of the Reeds team who finished third in the HMC National foursomes final at Rye links, in Kent.

He is set to go to Bournemouth University next year doing a sports management degree, specialising in golf.

Elliott, who has won three events at Wimbledon Park, has set his sights on cutting his handicap to single figures within the next 15 months.