MATCHPLAY SEASON REACHES CLIMAX

Sheffield Union of Golf Clubs' two remaining individual matchplay events both went to the final hole yesterday in thrilling encounters at Lindrick.

In the Sheffield Amateur Championship Wheatley’s Neil Stones, pictured below, staged a great fight back to beat Abbeydale’s James Gregg on the 18^th green in a topsy-turvy match which saw only two holes halved.

Gregg set the early pace going 3 up after six holes and by the 11^th tee he held the same lead. Stones, last year’s winner, pictured below coming out of the 18th bunker, then turned up the heat with birdies on the 11^th, 12^th, 14^th, 15 and 16^th  before deciding the match at the last.

It was the first time anyone had achieved the disctinction of retaining the title.

Union President Martin Brewis said: “There was good quality golf played and the match was a cracker, played in the best of spirits. They only halved the 2 holes and they had eight birdies between them.”

The pair had progressed to the afternoon final with Stones defeating Abbeydale’s Tim Brind 4&2 in the semis while the unfortunate Gregg (below) beat Jordan Perry of Phoenix on the first extra hole.

This year’s Junior Matchplay was the swansong for John Jarman who has turned 18 years of age meaning he will be competing with the seniors next year. 

But the Hallowes youngster, pictured below pitching to the 14th green, went out in style winning the event for the third year in succession.

After beating George Austerberry of Doncaster Golf Club 2 up in the semis he beat Abbeydale’s Josh Wright on the 18^th with a fine putt for par after missing the green to the right. Josh, aged 16, pictured below, had put up a fine challenge, winning his semi against Sam Rook 5&4 of Tankersley in the morning and taking the championship holder to the wire.  

He played a great recovery to the green from the rough on the final hole after pulling his tee shot only to be outdone by Jarman’s final putt.

The Union President, pictured presenting Jarman with his trophy said: "It was a very competitive final and Josh put up an excellent  fight in a great match which went to the final hole. Congratulations to John, I'm sure he will perform well with the seniors."

The Sheffield Amateur Championship is contested by the 16 leading players from the Amateur Stroke Play Championship and is played over a knock out format.

The Junior Matchplay is contested by under 18s from the Union’s 41 affiliated clubs.

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