ALEX STEERS TO VICTORY IN SHEFFIELD PLATE

Alex Fitzpatrick is not known for holding back off the tee but uncharacteristic restraint paved the way for his victory in the Sheffield Plate today.

The 17-year-old (pictured below)took the prestigious trophy on his home course, Hallamshire, after plotting a route down the middle to avoid the penal rough that ruined many a card.

Alex Fitzpatrick

The younger brother of Tour star Matthew Fitzpatrick, who attended the presentation, stole the limelight with a pair of matching one under par 70s to secure victory by five from Lindrick’s Jamie Sheppard.

Alex said: “I played conservatively today because the rough here is brutal. There were a lot of rescue clubs off the tee.”

It was steady golf indeed for Alex, who is known as one of the longest hitters around, as he contained his usual approach and plotted his way around a tough course.

“I was consistent today thanks to being conservative, playing steady golf and keeping it in play.

“The key though was holing from six feet which is what I did well all day.”

His first round was a bit of a mixed bag with a collection of bogeys and birdies. A birdie on the second settled him into his round where the highlight came on the par 5 14^th. He missed the fairway way left but recovered with a stunning 6 iron to five feet for eagle.

He described his afternoon stint as “very boring” a reference to what most golfers would call good, steady play. Two birdies and a bogey interrupted his run of pars.

The Tapton school student has just finished his A/S exams and after a month of further study he will concentrate on his golf with the ambition of winning a place in the England squad for the Home Internationals.

“I’m playing more consistently and if I can find a way of getting the driver going straight I’m sure a really good score will come.”

His long-term ambition is to emulate his big brother and who could be a better role model?

“I would love to be like Matt. For all young golfers he is somebody to look up to and I’m lucky he is my brother who is there to help me. I can’t ask for more.”

 This year’s Sheffield Plate – the highlight of South Yorkshire’s amateur golfing season, sponsored by the Special Steels Group – attracted a full field of 60 entries from the region and beyond.

They included a number of England international and squad members including last year’s winner Barclay Brown, Alex Fitzpatrick, Charlie Daughtrey and Jamie Harrison.

Others from as far afield as the Wynyard in Cleveland, Wilmslow GC and Kenwick Park, Lincolnshire, made the journey to the Hallamshire course staging the event for the 25^th consecutive year.

(CSS, AM = 74; PM = 73)

MORE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT WILL BE UPLOADED SOON.

 * Rotherham’s Charlie Daughtrey has been selected to present England in the defence of the Nations Cup in next month’s McGregor Trophy – the English U16 boys’ open championship – at Royal Ashdown Forest, Sussex. 

Charlie represented England in the U16 international against Spain last month.

 * Entries are invited to the junior event The Haydn Webster Trophy being played at Hillsborough GC on 28th July.

Haydn Webster, grandfather of Malcolm and Iain Mackenzie, started the event after watching Iain and Malcolm's achievements through the junior and senior ranks.

Former winners include Sheffield Tour star Matthew Fitzpatrick.  Entry fee is £5, including lunch voucher.

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