SHAW HILL'S Nick Dougherty came through the most gruelling tournament of his life to proudly lift the Amateur World Cup in Argentina.

The 18-year old said it was the most intense pressure he had ever experienced in an amateur competition.

But Dougherty came through with a par score on the first play-off hole to secure the Juan Carlos Tahilade Cup for his country.

"It was brilliant," he said from his hotel in Buenes Aires. "But I have never felt so much pressure during an amateur competition.

"The weather was terrible but I think that gave us an advantage, because we are used to it!"

Dougherty, England's youngest amateur international, was partnered by Gary Wolstenholme, England's most experienced amateur, in the four-round event.

Going into the final day, the pair were two shots behind the leaders Finland and by the end of the round, they were level with the Finns and South Africa, taking the contest to a play-off.

On the first play-off hole, Wolstenholme hit a birdie while the Fin and South African players both parred.

Dougherty knew he only had to par to win the competition and in wind and rain so bad the ball kept moving unassisted on the green, he kept his cool to putt from 20 yards.

"After Gary did so well with his shot I knew the pressure was on me and there's nowhere to hide if you let your team-mate down on a shot like that," he said. "I am absolutely delighted." Golfing legend Nick Faldo, who has been nurturing Dougherty since he won the Faldo Junior Series at 15, rang him at home before he left for Argentina to say: "I won the World Cup as a professional and I want you to go out there and win it as an amateur."

Dougherty, a former QUEGS pupil, will fly to Florida tomorrow to train at the Faldo Institute in Orlando for the winter.

His dad Roger said: "Nick (Faldo) rang this morning to see how he had gone on and he was very pleased. He said he would see Nick in Orlando in December."