CAPTAIN FANTASTIC!

By Martin Brewis, Sheffield Union Team Manager

Senior team captain Neil Stones capped a fantastic season winning the Sheffield Union of Golf Club’s Amateur Championship at Lindrick yesterday.

The Wheatley man (pictured below) beat Renishaw’s Richard Hanson on the first extra hole in a thrilling final that produced the traditional tight finish to the last main event of the Union’s golf season.

Hanson took an early lead of 2-up but Stones pulled them back on the 5th and 7th. It was nip and tuck from there with the duo continuously swapping holes back to all square. At the 12^th, Hanson chipped in off the green top left for a birdie, but lost the 13th to par. He regained the lead against a strong headwind with a birdie on the 16th.

Excitement mounted on the 17th where Hanson initially found himself in the driving seat with a tee shot finishing mid fairway, while Stones was in the trees on the left. He hacked it out onto the fairway, then stroked a magnificent 2-iron pin high, eight feet left of the flag.  Under pressure, Hanson’s 2nd found the front bunker which he blasted out and over the back of the green into an unplayable position leaving the match all square with one to play.

Hanson hit the green on the daunting par 3, while Stones found the left front bunker, taking two to get out.  Hanson was left to rue his three putts, which ultimately cost him victory.

On the first extra hole both players hit the fairway but Hanson found a bunker again with his approach that led to a bogey. Stones coolly produced the shot of the day with his second, which ended up within 2 feet of the hole to win the match.

The win marked a great season for Stones who steered the Sheffield seniors to a double victory in the Yorkshire league and team championships in his first year as captain. His win yesterday was his third in four years.

Both players reached the afternoon final after defeating tough opponents in the morning semis. Stones beat Nathan Fell, again on the 19^th, and Hanson defeated Mick McGuinness of Phoenix by 4&2.

In the first semi, Stones met Fell defending the championship on his home turf.

Fell played strongly to be 3 up after the 12th, but some uncharacteristically wayward drives robbed him of this lead.  The match finished all square and on to the 19^th where Fell’s second shot end up unplayable in the left hedge, giving victory to Stones.

In the second semi Mick McGuinness battled hard against Hanson’s steady play, but could not reverse his early 2-up lead to lose on the 16th.

In the junior final Jack Wilson of Hallowes beat Lewis Harrison of Birley Wood 3&1 to win the John Jarman Trophy. Wilson (pictured below) had a bye in the semi final as his opponent Callum Macfie was playing for England against Scotland. Meanwhile Harrison progressed to the final after defeating Brandon Perry of Phoenix.

Return to News Page

Created by intelligentgolf version 10.1.2.