BROWN CONQUERS GREENS TO LIFT SHEFFIELD PLATE

Danny Willett’s record as being the youngest player to win the Sheffield Plate has come to an end after 14-year-old star Barclay Brown last night became Sheffield Open Amateur Champion.

The youngster clinched the prize with a three under par 139 over two rounds at Sheffield’s Hallamshire course – and he was two year’s younger than Willett when he won in plate in 2004.

Brown scored a one over 72 in the morning round with 17 pars and a bogey on Hallamshire’s firm and super slick greens that proved a real challenge to many in the field.

BARCLAY BROWN WITH THE SHEFFIELD PLATE

He went out in the afternoon tied first with three others but in glorious sunshine Brown turned up the heat carding an unstoppable 67 to beat runner up, Rotherham’s Jamie Harrison by five shots.

In the second round he had an opening nine of seven pars and a birdie, at the par 3 6^th hole, and started steadily on the way home with consecutive pars.

He followed with an eagle at the 14^th with a drive and a four iron to three feet. A steady par cemented his lead before his only blemish appeared at the tricky 16 par 4.  He had to hack out of the rough and made bogey thanks to a 6-foot putt that found the bottom of the cup.

He then showed nerves beyond his age with birdies on the two final holes.

Brown, who is well known for his terrific short game said: “ I played pretty good all day and the putts dropped on Hallamshire’s fast and smooth greens.”

The Birkdale pupil has represented Yorkshire and England under 16s and won the North of England under 14s last August and has featured in the top 20 in the English under 14 and 16s boys’ championship.

He and his brother Elliott will represent Yorkshire next week.

This year’s Sheffield Plate attracted a full field of 60 top players from across the region and beyond, but many found the greens very testing. It was played in glorious sunshine – a big change from 2014 when the event was postponed due to flooding.

Runner up Jamie Harrison’s challenge fell on the back nine of the afternoon round with a double bogey at 13, and bogeys at 14 and 16 for a total of 72.

Full scores can be seen on the website www.sugc.co.uk

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