KELLY'S eye was well and truly in to land Fulford Golf Club's 36-hole stroke-play championship.

Matthew Kelly captured the crown in stunning style, sinking a 30-foot birdie putt at the third extra hole of a four-way sudden death play-off.

Kelly, whose father Dave caddied for him, led by one at lunch with a first round score of 77. Then, in the afternoon he was bracketed on the same 149 total with Iain Simpson, David Leaf and Matthew Lord for the gang of four play-off.

They were still deadlocked after playing the first and 18th holes. Back to the first and it looked as if the quartet could not be separated until Kelly's accuracy with his monster putt from the back of the green to seal the win.

Team Kelly made it a double celebration in posting the best net score of 136, three clear of Leaf's 139. The best morning round was 73 by James McVitie, while the afternoon's star round was the 71 posted by Richard Cass. James Wake won the junior prize with a 143 two-round total.

Kelly's gaze will now be on Fulford's match-play championship to be staged in August when a new trophy - donated by Nestl Rowntree - will be up for grabs. Kelly is a five-times previous winner of the match-play title.

GANTON GC and York GC member Carolyn Kirk has bagged international recognition.

She has been selected for the England team to play at the 25th European Senior Ladies Team Championships at Pleasington GC in Blackburn on September 5-7. A total of 12 teams from the Continent will compete to be Europe's best.

The call-up came after Kirk (pictured right) posted rounds of 79 and 78 to finish second in the English Senior Ladies' Golf Association stroke-play championships at Little Aston GC. Just six weeks earlier runners-up place was also achieved by Kirk in the English Ladies Seniors' match-play championship at Hayling Island in Hampshire.

CHAMPION Geoff Sherwood faces strong competition in the defence of the Kirkbymoorside GC men's open crown next month.

Scarborough's Shaun Smith, Whitby's Neil Coates and Kirkbymoorside's trio of low handicappers Phil Butler, Andy Holmes and Kevin Magson are sure to be in contention for the July 27 event.

Another full field of top amateurs (maximum 14 handicap) will by vying for the £2,500 prize money in a tournament by Ryedale Garage.

Entry costs £17 and further details are available on 01723 850014 or by calling in at Kirkbymoorside GC or Snainton Golf Centre.

FOR the ninth year Flamborough Head GC will host The Amken Classic, a competition in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief.

The event, to be played on August 5, is a better-ball stableford with entry open to men's, ladies' and mixed pairs with a first prize of a golf break for two at Wychwood Park in Crewe.

There are longest drive and nearest pin competitions with golf gloves autographed by Ryder Cup player Ian Poulter as prizes.

For further details contact Ian Rogers on 01132 436970 or 07889 227601 or e-mail ian@amken.co.uk

TWINS Michelle and Cheryl Smith of The Oaks GC were in awesome form for Yorkshire as they strove to retain their English Ladies Golf Association Northern Counties crown.

After the Ganton pairing of Naomi Edwards and Sara Garbutt lost their foursomes match against Cumbria, the Smith twins levelled with an emphatic 5 and 3 success and then won their respective singles, as did Bell and Edwards, as Yorkshire sealed an 8-1 win.

Updated: 10:59 Saturday, June 18, 2005