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YORKSHIRE ORDER OF MERIT Main Order of Merit PageReturn to the main Yorkshire Order of Merit page.... .MenuLatest NewsNewsletter2007 News2007 Results2006 Results.Entry FormsAuchterlonie SpoonBingley St. Ives SalverCleveland SalverEarl of DartmouthHawksworth TrophyHornsea GuttyMoor Allerton ClassicMoortown MastersOakdale AcornPannal Rose BowlSand Moor MastersSeaton SalverSheffield PlateTeesside TrophyYork Rose BowlYorkshire Amateur |
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Tee-times and entrants are as previously published. If anyone cannot make the new date they should contact club secretary Mick Fleming on 01642 616516.
If the event is cancelled the club will contact as many entrants as possible - if they have a contact number. Those who have not given a contact number should ring the Professional on 01642 673822 for further information.
You can see The Moor Allerton Amateur Classic Starting Times on the Huddersfield Golf website.
You can see The Teesside Trophy Starting Times on the Huddersfield Golf website.
Lots of heavy rain made the course unplayable with the head greenkeeper at the Leeds based course reporting ducks swimming on the 16th hole!!! Club representative Jackie Hogan joked, "The only competition being played here today is the Sand Moor Regatta!"
However, rumours that Michael Phelps was spotted going for his ninth Olympic Gold Medal down the 3rd fairway were quashed as being false!
The Sand Moor Masters due to be played tomorrow (19th August 2008) has been abandoned due to adverse weather conditions which have made the Leeds course unsuitable for play. Heavy rain over the past few days meant that the tournament organisers were able to make a decision today about the postponement. Further details will follow about the re-scheduling if this is possible and/or refunds to competitors.
You can see The Sand Moor Masters Starting Times on the Huddersfield Golf website.
Rounds of 67 and 73 gave the Yorkshire County player a two stroke victory over Bolden's G Nesbitt and fast-finishing home member Tom Hesketh who closed with a best of the day round of 66, five-under par. Defending champion Nick McCarthy finished in fourth place after posting scores of 73 and 72 on a day when the CSS rose to 72 for both rounds.
Brennan was the runner-up in 2007 to McCarthy and has a fabulous record around the Harrogate based course so it was no surprise when he led by four strokes at halfway. His solid second round of 73 always looked good enough for victory on a day of high scoring although Hesketh's round, playing in the penultimate group, gave the Wheatley member a scare.
Brennan, pictured above with the Oakdale Acorn Trophy, regained the lead in the order of merit when he overtook Baildon's Tom Usher who was an absentee at Oakdale whilst McCarthy moved into second place in what now looks like a two-horse race for the title with just four events to play. Brennan praised the recent alterations to the Oakdale course which has seen new bunkering on some holes tighten up the course with a few yards also added to a couple of holes.
Top Four Scores:
1st: S. Brennan (Wheatley): 67, 73 = 140
2nd: T. Hesketh (Oakdale): 76, 66 = 142
3rd: G. Nesbitt (Bolden): 71, 71 = 142
4th: N. McCarthy (Moortown): 73, 72 = 145
You can see The Oakdale Acorn Starting Times on the Huddersfield Golf website.
The Shipley member won by a single stroke from Baildon's Tom Usher who made a second round charge with a four-under par 67 in the afternoon. The low round of the day went to Oliver Young from Hollins hall who posted a 66 in his second round but despite his splendid effort his opening 73 had left him with too much work to do.
At the halfway stage Rowley trailed by a single stroke from Nathan Rogers but with the Tankersley Park man fading after a 73 following lunch it opened the door for Rowley to strike. Dane Bairstow was also a stroke back after his first round but he too fell back with a 73 in the afternoon.
Stephen Brennan missed out on the chance to increase his lead in the order of merit after scores of 74 and 76 and with Usher collecting 170 points for his second place he now moves to the top of the table.
Top Six Scores:
1st: D. Rowley (Shipley): 69, 67 = 136
2nd: T. Usher (Baildon): 70, 67 = 137
3rd: O. Young (Northcliffe): 73, 66 = 139
T4th: M. Atter (Woodhall Hills): 72, 69 = 141
T4th: D. Booth (Rotherham): 70, 71 = 141
T5th: N. Rogers (Tankersley Park): 68, 73 = 141
You can see The Bingley Scratch Salver Starting Times on the Huddersfield Golf website.
Rounds of 69 and 76 not only gave the Alwoodley man a one stroke victory over Wheatley's Aaron Hodkin but meant that he collected double points in the Yorkshire Order of Merit. Shucksmith earned 400 points which moves him on to a total of 530 and is now hot on the heels of the leaders.
It was also a good week for Hodkin's fellow Wheatley member, Steve Brennan, who finished in a tie for third place and consolidated his position in the top ten of the order of merit. Rotherham's James Maw will be another golfer happy with his points haul this week as he claimed a share of ninth place as did Richard Law from Low Laithes.
However, it wasn't such a good couple of days for order of merit leader, Moortown's Nick McCarthy, who not only missed out on the double points on offer but also did not make the top 32 and the matchplay stages of the tournament. Sam Haywood, who was in second place in the season long event, did not compete at Alwoodley whilst third placed Baildon's Tom Usher ended the county event in 40th place and also missed out on collecting any points.
Shucksmith had lead the field after his opening round of three-under par 69 on Tuesday gave him a one stroke cushion ahead of Richmond's Simon Calvert. However, with Calvert falling away on the second day, when the wind was stronger and nobody else was able to make a real charge, it allowed Shucksmith to hang on for the win.
The leading 32 players progress through to today's knockout stages with a 36 hole final being played on Saturday to crown the champion.
For those golfers from the Halifax, Huddersfield Union you may be interested in an article on our news blog where Chris Dyson from Woodsome Hall was our region's only qualifier.
Top Six Scores:
1st: W. Shucksmith (Alwoodley): 69, 76 = 145
2nd: A. Hodkin (Wheatley): 72, 74 = 146
T3rd: M. Henson (Bedale): 73, 74 = 147
T3rd: S. Brennan (Wheatley): 73, 74 = 147
T3rd: L. Cooper (Headingley): 72, 75 = 147
T6th: M. Hammond (Wath): 75, 73 = 148
T6th: D. Booth (Rotherham): 72, 76 = 148
T6th: R. Overall (Fulford): 71, 77 = 148
Brown, a member at Pike Hills Golf Club and recently crowned York Amateur Champion for the third time, trailed by three strokes at the half-way stage from Ilkley's Oliver Shaw and defending champion Steven Whitwham (Harrogate) who both carded opening three-under par rounds of 69. Whitwham's defence was looking a little shaky at the turn but a scintillating inward nine of 30, six under par, catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard at lunch. Another Stephen, this time Brennan, was a stroke further back after his score of 70 whilst Hessle's Alan Wright equaled Brown's score.
Brown's opening round included a lost ball on the par five 16th which looked like it may ultimately cost him the title, however, when both Whitwham and Shaw carded scores in the high seventy's it opened the door for Brown to sneak in and add a 72 to steal the victory. Wright stumbled to a 75 which left him in a tie for fifth whilst Brennan, playing in the final group, came in with a 76 to finish level with the Hessle member.
Moor Allerton's Jonathan Lawrence was the eventual runner-up after a pair of 72's whilst Nigel Sweet from Moortown made the biggest charge in the afternoon with a two-under par 70 to finish third. James Coldwell took fourth with Grant Little in fifth.
Top Six Scores:
1st: M. Brown (Pike Hills): 71, 72 = 143
2nd: J. Lawrence (Moor Allerton): 72, 72 = 144
T3rd: N. Sweet (Moortown): 75, 70 = 145
T3rd: J. Coldwell (Knaresborough): 73, 72 = 145
T5th: G. Little (Brampton): 76, 70 = 146
T5th: J. Maw (Hallowes): 72, 74 = 146
T5th: A. Wright (Hessle): 71, 75 = 146
T5th: S. Brennan (Wheatley): 70, 76 = 146
T5th: O. Shaw (Ilkley): 69, 77 = 146
The top two golfers, Sam Haywood and Nicholas McCarthy, did not play in any of the events last week but still remain at the top of the tree due to Haywood's win at York earlier in the season as well as being well placed in The Auchterlonie Spoon and Hawksworth Trophy whilst previous back-to-back victories at Bradford and Cleveland kept Moortown man McCarthy hot on his heels in second place.
Haywood, who decided to take up a caddying role for Rotherham club mate Danny Willett in The Welsh Open at Celtic Manor last week, has also not entered the Pannal Rose Bowl and will fit in his own tournament play around the schedule of newly turned professional Willett. McCarthy, however, is expected to compete at the Harrogate based club where he has been drawn in the final three-ball along with Ian Winstanley (Formby) who travels over from Lancashire.
The weeks biggest mover was Baildon's Tom Usher after a top four finish in the Earl of Dartmouth Trophy and then winning at Hornsea two days later. The Yorkshire County player lies in third position but is also set to miss the midweek Pannal event. That may open the door for Bradford's Sam Jewell, another mover last week when he won at Woodsome Hall and also collected points at Hornsea, when he tees it up at Pannal.
Last years champion, Alex Best from Cleveland, currently lies in tenth place despite playing only a very limited schedule.
Leading Players:
530 points - S Haywood (Rotherham)
480 - N McCarthy (Moortown)
455 - T Usher (Baildon)
390 - M Evans (Rotherham)
348 - S Jewell (Bradford)
286 - R Law (Low Laithes)
285 - J Maw (Hallowes)
268 - D McCarthy (Moortown)
237 - E Battye (Dewsbury Dist)
223 - Alex Best (Cleveland)
220 - S Brennan (Wheatley)
213 - M Harrison (Phoenix)
213 - S Hartley (Low Laithes)
203 - A Lount (Pike Hills)
See the full Yorkshire Order of Merit leaderboard on the official Yorkshire Order of Merit website.
For most of the day glorious sunshine covered the Hallamshire golf course, however, after both players had tied on two-over par tournament totals of 144 and the rest of the field had completed their rounds, the storm clouds gathered and the heavens opened.
Rogers, playing in only the fifth group out, had a long wait for the play-off after he had posted rounds of 69 (which included five birdies) and 75 only to be matched by Hammond with scores of 71 and 73 - his morning 71 including an eagle three at the final hole. Rogers had led by two clear strokes at the halfway stage from Hammond and two other Wath members; Sam Bridges and Gary Fullwood. Bridges slumped to an afternoon 82 whilst Fullwood in the final match out on the course was unable to force a three-way play-off after his score of 78.
In the play-off Rogers found trouble off the tee and with his ball sat down in the thick and now wet rough could only manage a double bogey six. Hammond played the tough par four hole more conservatively and made a bogey which was good enough to give him the victory.
Home club member, Craig Scott, fired the joint low round of the day, with a 68 in the afternoon, to finish in third place on 145 with James Maw (Hallowes) and L Hopwood (Hickleton) fourth and fifth respectively on 146.
Top Six Scores:
1st: M. Hammond (Wath): 71, 73 = 144 (Won at 1st Play-Off Hole)
2nd: N. Rogers (Tankersley Park): 69, 75 = 144
3rd: C. Scott (Hallamshire): 77, 68 = 145
T4th: J. Maw (Hallowes): 73, 73 = 146
T4th: L. Hopwood (Hickleton): 73, 73 = 146
T6th: R. Bee (Phoenix): 78, 69 = 147
T6th: M. Harrison (Phoenix): 73, 74 = 147
T6th: S. Coumbe (Pontefract): 72, 75 = 147
You can see The Pannal Rosebowl Starting Times on the Huddersfield Golf website.
Usher made it two wins out of two so far this week on The Yorkshire Order of Merit for the Bradford Union as he recovered from a poor start in his opening round to post a five-over par 77 then added a splendid level par 72 in the afternoon for a winning 149 total.
Usher's five over par tournament aggregate was one better than runner up Justin Sloan from Brough Golf Club, who after a morning round of 80 must have thought that his chances had gone, but he then recorded the lowest score of the day, a two under par 70, to leapfrog up the leaderboard and take second place.
On a windy day Alan Wright from nearby Hessle Golf Club posted solid rounds of 75 and 76 to grab third place on a card countback from Craig Smith (Pike Hills) and Matthew Killen (Cottingham) who finished fourth and fifth respectively.
It has been a good week for Usher in the Order of Merit after also securing fourth place at Woodsome Hall on Bank Holiday Monday.
Top Six Scores:
1st: T. Usher (Baildon): 77, 72 = 149
2nd: J. Sloan (Brough): 80, 70 = 150
T3rd: A. Wright (Hessle): 75, 76 = 151
T3rd: C. Smith (Pike Hills): 74, 77 = 151
T3rd: M. Killen (Cottingham): 72, 79 = 151
T6th: J. Robinson (Hornsea): 77, 76 = 153
T6th: E. Battye (Dewsbury): 74, 79 = 153
T6th: L. Pucill (Fulford): 71, 82 = 153
The scratch golfer and son of Derby County Football Club manager, Paul, braved tough conditions as the Woodsome Hall course played fast and hard due to very strong winds and firm greens. Jewell trailed by four strokes from Howley Hall's Luke Maguire at the halfway stage, after recording a 75, but when the Leeds player 'no returned' during his second round it paved the way for Jewell, a Bradford Union team member, to secure the title.
Tim Seaton, the new General Manager at Huddersfield Golf Club, who is both a former England Boys International and Cambridgeshire County Champion, had posted two solid rounds of 73 and 75 for a 148 total which did not look like being beaten until Jewell came in with his splendid second round effort.
Richard Law, the Yorkshire and Leeds boys captain from Low Laithes, finished third after rounds of 74 and 76 with Tom Usher grabbing fourth spot after a 76 and 75. Home club member Richard Holt finished in fifth.
Jewell, a Yorkshire County Squad member, commented, " The conditions were horrendous - some of the worst I've ever played in. It was just a case of grinding it out and sticking with it. I had two chip-ins during the second round which is always a help, though I also had my fair share of three putts."
An indication of how difficult the scoring was could be seen from the fact that the CSS went up by three to 72 in each round and both rounds were both deemed to be 'reduction only' rounds.
The Yorkshire Order of Merit moves to Hornsea for their 'Gutty' tournament on Wednesday.
A further report on the Earl of Dartmouth Trophy from a 'Huddersfield Golf' perspective can be read on our blog.
Jewell is pictured below with Woodsome Hall Captain Geoff Headey (left) and tournament organiser Robert Scollick (right).
Top Six Scores:
1st: S. Jewell (Bradford): 75, 71 = 146
2nd: T. Seaton (Huddersfield): 73, 75 = 148
3rd: R. Law (Low Laithes): 74, 76 = 150
4th: T. Usher (Baildon): 76, 75 = 151
5th: R. Holt (Woodsome Hall): 75, 77 = 152
T6th: E. Burdett (Malton & Norton): 76, 77 = 153
T6th: S. Brennan (Wheatley): 82, 71 = 153
T6th: L. Pucill (Fulford): 78, 75 = 153
T6th: R. Broadley (Huddersfield): 77, 76 = 153
You can see The Hornsea Gutty Starting Times on the Huddersfield Golf website.
You can see The Sheffield Plate Starting Times on the Huddersfield Golf website.
Hutton, a scratch golfer, fired seven birdies in his morning round of 66 - five under par and the lowest score on the revised Old Course. He got off to a great start with birdies at the first three holes and when he added four more against just two bogeys he led at the half way stage by four strokes. His afternoon round was more subdued but he still carded a 72 for a 138 total which wouldn't be beaten.
The runners-up spot went jointly to defending champion Chris Hewitt from Beamish Golf Club and home club member Hughie Hamilton who both posted totals of 142. Hewitt, partnering Hutton, never really got close enough to challenge the winner although Hamilton came to the last hole knowing that a birdie would force a play-off. However, he flew the green as well as the assembled crowd with his approach shot. His ball went into the car park and out of bounds and with it his chance gone of recording a fourth victory in the event. Hamilton who won the Salver in 2004, 2005 and 2006 ended with a triple bogey seven and a share of second place.
Current Durham County Champion, David Patterson (Seaham Golf Club), finished in fourth place for the second year running with rounds of 73 and 70 whilst Jason Jones of Saltburn Golf Club took fifth place with a 71 and a 75 for an aggregate of 146. Four players tied for sixth place on 147.
Although many of the Yorkshire Order of Merit big guns were absent the event was still over subscribed and a strong field were tested by the blustery conditions on the North East coast links course which regularly features in lists of the best courses throughout the United Kingdom.
Top Six Scores:
1st: J. Hutton (Whickham): 66, 72 = 138
T2nd: C. Hewitt (Beamish): 71, 71 = 142
T2nd: H. Hamilton (Seaton Carew): 70, 72 = 142
4th: D. Patterson (Seaham): 73, 70 = 143
5th: J. Jones (Saltburn): 71, 75 = 146
T6th: E. Battye (Dewsbury): 76, 71 = 147
T6th: K. Wylan (Bedlington): 73, 74 = 147
T6th: B. Ross (Heworth): 72, 75 = 147
T6th: S. Brown (Castle Eden): 71, 76 = 147
You can see The Earl of Dartmouth Trophy Starting Times on the Huddersfield Golf website.
You can see The Seaton Salver Starting Times on the Huddersfield Golf website.
Haywood, who has established himself as one of the most consistent and lowest scoring players on The Yorkshire Order of Merit circuit, claimed victory by four strokes after adding a 71 after lunch for a 135 winning total - the joint lowest winning score in the events history.
Haywood has an impressive record over recent seasons with a number of runner-up awards including second place finishes in the Auchterlonie Spoon and Hawksworth Trophy earlier this year, the latter where was beaten in a sudden death play-off. He was pipped to the Moortown Masters on a card countback in last seasons final event and also finished second at Selby last season. However, the title he won today can be added to the Hornsea Gutty that he claimed last year and lifts him to the top of the order of merit.
With only his club mate Matthew Evans realistically able to challenge Haywood after the morning rounds were completed his afternoon score of 71 eased him to victory. Evans trailed by three at the halfway stage and when he could only shoot a 72 in his second round he had to settle for a share of second place alongside James Maw from Hallowes Golf Club who produced rounds of 69 and 70. Robert Overall from Selby finished fourth and Steve Brennan (Wheatley) who was last season's runner-up made fifth place after solid rounds of 71 and 70. Pike Hill's Adam Newton finished in sixth place after a 69 and 73 although will have been disappointed not to have challenged Haywood as he stood four under par with just three holes to play of his morning round.
Haywood's six-under par round of 64 would have stood as a new course record if it had not been for a 'clean and place' policy introduced for the competition due to heavy rain during the week which left the course wet in places and allowed competitors to prefer their lie on shortly mown areas.
Top Six Scores:
1st: S. Haywood (Rotherham): 64, 71 = 135
T2nd: J. Maw (Hallowes): 69, 70 = 139
T2nd: M. Evans (Rotherham): 67, 72 = 139
T4th: R. Overall (Selby): 72, 69 = 141
T4th: S. Brennan (Wheatley): 71, 70 = 141
6th: A. Newton (Pike Hills): 69, 73 = 142
Just 24 hours after landing The Hawksworth Trophy at Bradford Golf Club McCarthy was accepting the Cleveland Salver following stunning rounds of 67 and 65 for a 12-under par total of 132. However, he was pushed all the way by home club member, defending champion and pre-tournament favourite, Adam Best, who fired rounds of 68 and 69 to miss out on forcing a play-off by five strokes. It was sweet revenge for McCarthy as he missed out by just one shot last year from being in the play-off that Best won to capture the 2007 title.
McCarthy's afternoon seven under round of 65 included eight birdies and just a solitary bogey which came on the par 4 17th after a poor drive. He bounced straight back, however, with a birdie four on his final hole which meant that he emulated his father, David, who won the title back in 1978. The win lifts him to the top of the order of merit and his focus will now be making it three wins in a row when he tees up in the final match at Strensall next weekend in The York Rose Bowl.
Top Six Scores:
1st: N. McCarthy (Moortown): 67, 65 = 132
2nd: A. Best (Cleveland): 68, 69 = 137
3rd: M. Curry (Brancepeth Castle): 72, 67 = 139
4th: G. McLure (Consett): 69, 73 = 142
5th: L. Searle (Romanby): 71, 72 = 143
6th: P. Thomas (West Bradford): 73, 71 = 144
In the second Yorkshire Order of Merit event of the season the Moortown Golf Club member carded a 70 in the morning then added a three-under par 68 in the afternoon. That was good enough to tie with Rotherham's Sam Haywood who produced a pair of 69's for his 138 total.
Teeing off early in match number five it meant that McCarthy, whose older brother Duncan led at the halfway stage and eventually finished tied fourth, had a long wait to see if his scores would be good enough. Haywood, in match 30, birdied his 35th hole to get to the same tournament score (four under) as McCarthy and then a par on the last resulted in the play-off which commenced on the 11th hole.
In the sudden death decider it was Haywood who drove first and found the left semi rough. McCarthy was arrow straight down the middle and only a few paces from the front edge of the short, downhill par four hole green. Haywood played a delicate lob towards the pin but missed his birdie putt. McCarthy, who had chipped very close, rolled in his short putt for the title which adds to the Oakdale Acorn title that he captured last year.
For Haywood it is now two runners up places out of two events as he also finished (tied) second at Selby Golf Club in The Auchterlonie Spoon last weekend. His consolation is that he now currently leads the order of merit.
Matt Evans was the nearest challenger to the leading duo with rounds of 71 and 69 with a stack of players bunched up behind with scores of 144 and upwards. Defending champion, Simon Bell from Baildon, finished tied 6th alongside the highest placed home club member, Sam Jewell, with a total of 145.
Top Six Scores:
1st: N. McCarthy (Moortown): 70, 68 = 138 (Won at 1st Play-Off Hole)
2nd: S. Haywood (Rotherham): 69, 69 = 138
3rd: M. Evans (Rotherham): 71, 69 = 140
T4th: T. Usher (Baildon): 72, 72 = 144
T4th: D. McCarthy (Moortown): 69, 75 = 144
T5th: S. Jewell (Bradford): 73, 72 = 145
T5th: S. Bell (Baildon): 72, 73 = 145
T5th: D. Appleyard (South Leeds): = 72, 73 = 145
T5th: A. Sagar (Keighley): 70, 75 = 145
You can see The York Rose Bowl Starting Times on the Huddersfield Golf website.
In a strong field, which included 33 players with handicaps of scratch or better, Armitage produced a stunning five under par opening round of 66 to pave the way for his victory. Representing Howley Hall Golf Club the likeable plus-two handicapper later added a gross 73 to his morning tally for a 139 total which was good enough to win by two strokes from Neil Self of Stand Golf Club and Rotherham's Sam Haywood.
Armitage's 66 gave him a four stroke cushion at lunch over his nearest rivals but with a host of 'plus' men queuing up behind him he knew that a score around level par would probably be needed in the afternoon to win. After his two over par 73 it was a nervy wait for the Leeds man but with Haywood, who got under par in his second round only to drop back to level, and Self unable to better their morning scores the title was his. A challenge was expected from last seasons order of merit winner, Adam Best (Cleveland), but a disappointing round of 80 was added to his opening 72. The lowest handicapped golfer in the field, Pontefract's Simon Coumbe playing off plus-three, was also expected to make a charge but also failed to improve in the afternoon and finished in a tie for seventh.
Self, who eagled the par 4 11th, was awarded the runners-up spot ahead of Haywood due to a better back nine in his second round after both players had shot identical scores of 70 and 71. Will Shucksmith from Alwoodley finished in fourth position with Duncan McCarthy (Moortown) claiming the final 'prized position' in fifth place seeing off Roger Roper on a countback after both shot 73 and 71 for 144 totals.
Leading Scores:
1st: M. Armitage (Howley Hall): 66, 73 = 139
T2nd: N. Self (Stand): 70, 71 = 141
T2nd:
S. Haywood (Rotherham): 70, 71 = 141
4th: W. Shucksmith (Alwoodley): 72, 71 = 143
T5th: D. McCarthy (Moortown): 73, 71 = 144
T5th: L. Maguire (Howley Hall): 72, 72 = 144
T5th: R . Roper (Wike Ridge): 73, 71 = 144
You can see The Hawksworth Trophy Starting Times on the Huddersfield Golf website.
You can see The Cleveland Salver Starting Times on the Huddersfield Golf website.
You can see The Auchterlonie Spoon Starting Times on the Huddersfield Golf website.
