Team Aspen, comprised of Saltus Grammar School students Ryan Benevides, Ryan Roberts, Josh Hopwood and Nick Park, were crowned 2008 Duke of Edinburgh Golf Challenge champions at Mid Ocean Club yesterday.

The foursome fired an impressive 13-under-par 58 to win the four ball best ball event by a single shot over Rennaissance Re who came in 12 strokes under. Third place honours went to Argo Group who carded a nine-under-par 62 respectively.

Guiding Aspen to victory was the trio of Benevides, Hopwood and Roberts who all came in under par. Benevides led the way with a team-low three-under-par 68, Hopwood fired an equally impressive 68 while Riddell's Bay club champion and Bermuda National Junior champion Roberts had a one-under-par 70.

Speaking to The Royal Gazette shortly after being presented with the trophy from Governor Sir Richard Gozney, Roberts remarked: "We knew we had a good chance of winning the tournament, but we didn't expect to do this well today.

"We putted really well and overall I thought we played some good golf today.

"It was a lot of fun out there playing with my friends and of course we even got to drive the golf carts. We played really well and even had a few laughs. It was a really beautiful day for golf.

"It's the week after the Grand Slam (PGA Grand Slam of Golf) and so the course is in great condition.

"This was our first year competing in this event and of course it feels good to win. It was also good just to have the day off from school to play golf at Mid Ocean.

"In the end we won by a single shot and so it was very close. To be honest we were actually surprised by how close the margin of victory was in the end."

The Duke of Edinburgh Golf Challenge is a fundraiser for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme which is a self-development programme for young people between the ages of 14 and 25.

The award scheme's primary objective is to equip youngsters with the necessary tools to become productive citizens in the community.

Kenneth Bartram, chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh Award in Bermuda and past Award recipient, commented: "As a holder of a Gold Level Award, I know the benefits that can be reaped from participation in the Award Programme.

"It is our vision to extend and grow the programme so that it reaches all young people and especially those that can benefit from it the most."

Bartram thanked all of the event's generous sponsors as well as all those who participated in this year's tournament.

"It is fundraising events such as this that allows the Award Programme to continue to be resource for Bermuda's young people," he added. "It also allows our young people a chance to network with the business community."

This year's event featured a total of 17 teams comprised of members from the corporate sector and students as well as a $50,000 hole-in-one challenge at the par three 17th where Benevides, Sheila Gringley, William Haddrell and Randy Smith were unable to pocket the prize earnings on offer.

From its inception in Bermuda in 1967 the Duke of Edinburgh's Award has grown over the last 41 years. The Award currently enjoys an annual participation of approximately 275 young people with over 1,600 awards earned in Bermuda over the last 12 years.