The Surrey Rookie Tour will celebrate a memorable record-breaking season at Top Golf, Addlestone on Saturday, writes John Whitbread.

To say that the five-year-old Tour continues to grow apace does not really do justice to an organisation which provides top-class competitive golf for 140 of the county's most promising youngsters from 43 clubs.

One of the major changes has been to move from nine-hole events to 11 handicap and scratch tournaments for the U12s and U14s on full 18-hole courses, with a new “Race to the Stars” finale for the leading players in each Order of Merit.

There have been additional advances for the youngest age group allowing the more advanced U10s - who reach the required standard - to move up and play in the U12 Order of Merit.

They have also created a separate U10 Order of Merit for the younger higher handicap players.

The race for the various Order of Merit titles was intense with several players still in with a chance to claim a title right up to the last event, the Race to the Stars at The Drift.

In the end Jack Duguid (Foxhills) just took the U14 scratch title from Nick Peters (Wentworth) with Jeong Sim (Burhill) third.

James Kressinger-Dunn (Betchworth) took the U14 handicap title with Jeong Sim second!and Ryan Aldridge just taking third from Nick Peters on count back. In fact it was so close that the boys were still tied on best six and the best five results had to be used to separate them

Owen Kressinger-Dunn (Betchworth) not to be outdone by brother James won the U12 Order of Merit with Lewis Brown (Surbiton) a mere 1.5pts behind in second . Brown was an U10 who took advantage of the new rule and moved up to the U12 event.

The new U10 Order of Merit was another very close affair with Enrique Dimayuga (Horton) taking top spot from Ryan Griffiths (West Byfleet) who just sneaked second on count back from Luke Barnes (Farnham).

In part the Tour has been a victim of its own success with most of the events being sold out very quickly "We had an average of 75 players taking part in each event, while in 2009 it was just 46, " said delighted Tour official Steve McNeill.

"The biggest field was at Foxhills on the par 3 course where 107 competed on the par-3 course, closely followed by Goal Farm with nearly 90."

"All but three players who have represented Surrey in U14, U13 and U12 county matches in 2010 are registered and play with us, which just goes to show the fantastic quality of players playing in the Tour."

"The only cloud on a very bright horizon has been the relatively small number of girls taking part. Only 12 girls were registered this year – which was 50 per cent down on 2009.

"It is disappointing and we will have to work harder with the club's junior organisers to try and build up the number of girls for next year," added McNeill.

"But overall there is no doubt it’s yet again been a brilliant year and our special thanks go to the continued support of the Surrey Golf Clubs who host our events. Without their help the Rookie Tour simply wouldn’t exist."