Congratulating them on behalf of Hurstville Council, Mayor Philip Sansom said that the team of eight boys, aged 13 to 15, qualified after placing second in a field of 60 Sydney golf clubs in the Sydney Metropolitan Encourage Shield late last year.

The boys won a sudden death playoff against Toukley to reach the final.

In an interesting twist, the team was up against Dunheved Golf Club in the finals, but this time won the game 3.5 to 2.5 to become 2009 Encourage Shield state champions.

Councillor Sansom said the council supported Hurstville Golf Club's junior opportunity program by waiving green fees for players in inter-club competitions.

"This is the team's first major title and it's a great credit to the boys, team manager Martin Johnson, BlueFit pros from Hurstville Golf Club, Daniel Marsh and Stewart Hardiman, parents and grandparents, supporter St George Maso's and Bruce Hancock, who established

the team,'' Cr Sansom said.