HOPWOOD COMES THROUGH THE FIELD TO WIN THE SHEFFIELD PLATE

This is the blue ribbon event on the SUGC calendar and was once again generously sponsored by Sheffield Special Steels. Played annually since 1993 for the magnificent “Sheffield Plate”, another very strong field of low handicap golfers from around Yorkshire was once again attracted to this event.

Past winners of “The Plate” include current European Tour star Danny Willett, recent Challenge Tour pro Matt Evans and former Yorkshire Amateur Champions Ian Mackenzie, Richard Jones and Shaun Tarplett.

On a hot sunny day at Hallamshire Golf Club, with the course looking in fantastic condition, expectations were high for a great 36 hole championship with a lot of low scoring and the field of sixty four players certainly did not disappoint.

After the morning round, young Tankersley Park GC member Lewis Hollingworth led the way with a two under par round of 69 on the newly lengthened course. One shot further back were two time Yorkshire Boys Champion Sam Young and George Forder from Fulford Golf Club, York.

In touch with the leader on 71 were Hopwood, veteran SUGC golfer Steve Brennan from Wheatley GC and reigning Sheffield Match Play Champion James Smedley from Worksop GC.

First to make a move in the afternoon round was eventual runner–up Matt Langley from Sitwell Park GC who soon found himself at five under par for his round and two under for the championship. He later dropped a shot on the back nine as the extreme heat started to get through to the competitors and finished on a score of 141, one under par overall.

Hallowes member Scott Campbell also finished on the same 141 mark after a second round 69 as did Forder from York whose 71 made him one of only two players in the field to not go over par in either round.

Pictured above Steve Dodd (Hallamshire Captain) Lee Hopwood (Hickleton) Trevor Slack (SUGC President)

With first round leader Lewis Hollingsworth falling away on the back nine and other well placed competitors failing to mount a consistent challenge, it was left to Lee Hopwood to show the field what could be done with a strong finishing three under par round of 68, matched by Dominic Moon from Rotherham GC who eventually finished in sixth place.

Keeping his concentration to the very end, Hopwood let out a cry of joy as his tee shot on the 17^th nestled close to the pin for another birdie and one hole later he was able to reflect on what turned out to be a very good winning score of 139, three under par on the ever challenging Hallamshire course.

Coincidently, 139 (71/68) was exactly the same winning score from eight years ago when Danny Willett proudly walked off with this championship when playing out of Bondhay Golf Club as a junior golfer of sixteen years of age.

For all the scores from this championship, please go to the “Recent Results” section on the home page 

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