Scarthingwell GC was the venue for this year’s Team Championship which traditionally brings the Scratch League to a close for the year.

We were fortunate to have a fine day for the event, and some fine golf to match.  As usual, the morning foursomes provided a different sort of test for a lot of players unused to playing alternate shot golf, but even so some good scores were returned.  Jack Boyd and Marcus Brigham (Malton & Norton) combined to record the best round of the morning with a 1 over par 73,  with 74’s from Rob Moore and Damon Coulson (Fulford), Stuart Rice and Darren Dunning (Sandburn Hall), and Alistair Smith and Steve Stokell (Pike Hills). 

Sandburn Hall went into the afternoon singles holding a 3 stroke lead over Malton & Norton with Fulford “A” and Pike Hills “A” a further stroke behind.

Three sub-par rounds were recorded in the afternoon singles by Alistair Smith (Pike Hills) with 71 , Damon Coulson (Fulford) and Tom Pyman (The Oaks) both with 70. Tom Pyman beat Damon Coulson on countback to claim the Issott Trophy which is presented to the individual with the lowest score in the afternoon. Well done Tom!

Sandburn Hall couldn’t maintain their morning form as they eventually finished runners up behind Fulford “A” who claimed the Team Championship for the fourth consecutive year.

Fulford “A” claimed both the Team Championship and Division 1 whilst their “B” team finished top of Division 2. Well done Fulford!

England Golf’s Carris Trophy is a competition open to boy amateur golfers of all nationalities who are under the age of 18 on the 1st January. Fulford GC hosted this year’s 72 hole strokeplay event following on from the successful R&A Girls U16’s competition back in April. 

The York Union had several applicants including Fulford’s Tom Kelly & George Robson along with Josh Stead from Malton & Norton who all unfortunately missed the entry cut by the smallest of margins but maintained a place on the reserve’s list up until Tuesday mornings tee off. 

Due to a late dropout George Robson had the opportunity to tee it up in a global event at his home course in front on his friends and family. Not only did George grab this opportunity with both hands, but he found himself battling against the worlds best boy golfers as he posted a 1 under 71 on Tuesday which in hot condition was an outstanding effort. 

George followed his 71 with a 76 which seemed to drop him back a little but as a competitor receiving the go ahead to play on Monday night, making the cut seemed like his goal had being achieved. George followed his 71 & 76 with another 76 and an 81 resulting in a 58th place finish…. which out of 144 global competitors is not to bad! WELL DONE GEORGE 😊 

Chartham Park’s Joe Sullivan wandered round Fulford in 66 shots giving him the outright lead heading into Wednesday. Unfortunately, Joe couldn’t keep up the good form and faded away as the competition reached its climax. 

Generally, the better golfers rise to the top of the leader board as course conditions were firm and bouncy and the stamina needed to play good golf for 72 holes lends itself to the more experienced players in the field, which proved to be right. 

Gregorio De Leo from Italy took a 2 shot lead into the final round ahead of Hallamshire's Barclay Brown and a whole host of quality golfers ready to claim the 2018 Carris Trophy. It was nip & tuck for most of the front 9 as Brown hung in with a hole out for par on 7 and a whole host of lengthy putts dropping as De Leo looked comfortable heading into the final few holes. 

De Leo faltered on the 15th resulting in the Italian taking a 1 shot lead into the final stretch at Fulford which for those who have played the course will understand opportunities are presented. Brown took full advantage of his putting skills as he rolled in a lengthy 35ft putt on 17 to deliver a blown to De Leo as his lead disappeared. 

18th tee…. Brown took no time at all in deciding that iron was the play whilst De Leo attacked the hole with a driver. Brown hits the fairway where as De Leo finds the sand. Somehow this seemed to be Brown’s day as his 2nd shot found the fringe followed by a chip to a couple of inches meaning De Leo had to get up and down from 100 yards to force a playoff. 

A 72-hole total of -9 is an outstanding score and worthy of any championship! Barclay Brown follows in the foot steps of Justin Rose, Graham Storm and Fulford's very own Jonathan Plaxton. 

WELL DONE BARCLAY AND THANKS FULFORD FOR ANOTHER GREAT WEEK! 

Wednesday 11th July 2018 was not just about England agonisingly losing out on a place in this year’s World Cup Final but it was a day Fulford GC became packed with York’s best senior golfers.

This years Senior Championship presented challenges similar to the Benson & Hedges as course conditions have become dry, burnt and bouncy which for some seemed appealing, but feedback suggests that it is the toughest the course has played in years.

With a total of 137 competitors the competition was split into 2 divisions. Division 2 was won by Geoff Scott (Heworth) who believe it or not hit the first ball of the day. Geoff’s 40 points was enough to hold of Ray Cooper (Forest Park), Ian Bainbridge (Fulford) and Peter Ford (Forest Park). Well done Geoff.

Steven Simpson held onto to division 1 for some time before David Leaf (Fulford) posted an unbeaten 41 points.  Martin Pickles (Fulford) and Jim Ross (Sandburn Hall) both posted 40’s with countback putting them first and second in the division, with Michael Dand (Malton & Norton) and Steve Daniel (Fulford) settled for fourth and fifth places with 39 points. 

Congratulations to David Leaf – York Union 2018 Seniors Champion. 

Another positive from the day was the noticeable change in the pace of play. The final group took 3 hours 48 minutes to complete 18 holes. If only we had an incentive of England playing in a semi-final after every event 😊