THE Sutherland family had a time to remember at Fulford Golf Club as Bill and his son, James, carried off major prizes in two competitions.

Sutherland junior had a remarkable round of 59, 13 under par, to win the Benson and Hedges annual trophy competition, five shots ahead of the field.

Although he is a 19 handicap player, he actually played to six on the day and has now been pulled to 16.

The Benson and Hedges Trophy was given to Fulford by B&H officials for an annual competition as a memento following the club's staging of the B&H International Open from 1971 to 1989 when stars of the golfing world, among them Lee Trevino, Tom Weiskopf, Tony Jacklin, Mark James and Greg Norman, were among the winners.

Conditions for the event were perfect with 42 players in the field of 168 beating par.

Bill Sutherland followed his son's triumph the following day when he carried off the Archie Sorrell Trophy with 39 stableford points.

This was a much more closely run affair with Sutherland senior edging home on the back nine with 20 points from former York men's singles tennis champion Steve Smith, who also totalled 39.

THREE'S a crowded battle for honours in The York GC's Royal Signals Trophy competition.

Michael Lyons, Donald Wilson and Peter Lawton all finished in joint first position tied on 43 stableford points. So now the inseparable trio will have to do it all again in a three-way play-off which has to be completed within the next three weeks.

Back on 42 points were Tim Cockill and Mike Chatten with Ken Beevers on 41.

No such closeness in the Invitation Day, which was won by the foursome of Nigel Kirby, Richard Flanagan, Don Fairclough and Ted Kendall.

Their total of 126 was three better than second-placed Tony Lally, Keith McEwan, Peter Smith and Mike Norman.

PIKE Hills GC scaled the heights in the York Union of Golf Clubs' scratch league.

The Hills-toppers won the championship by a convincing 12-point margin from Kirkbymoorside. The triumph was confirmed with one match to play, underlining a superiority that was evident for most of the season.

Kirkbymoorside's runners-up spot, however, was all the more creditable after they opened the season with a brace of 8-0 defeats.

Fulford's title challenge dipped in the latter stages of the season in which they lost three out of their last four matches to be pipped into third place by Boothferry.

In division two, a spirited tilt by Scarthingwell ended in a narrow 5-3 defeat to eventual champions Easingwold. Malton and Norton finished second after beating Forest Park 6-2.

A TOP-CLASS finish - and Batt's official.

That was the outcome of the men's club championship at Heworth GC.

The 36-holes tournament was dominated by Jim Batt. His 141 gross total was an emphatic seven shots ahead of his closest foe, Neil Ferguson, and just for good measure Batt also had the lowest gross score of 68 in the morning round.

By way of consolation, Ferguson posted the afternoon's lowest gross of 70, while the best nett scores went to Steve Simpson (first round) and L Ridsdale (second round) of 61 and 63 respectively. Ridsdale was third overall in the championship.

FULFORD GC tumbled out of the Mail On Sunday Classic after a 3-1 defeat in the seventh round duel at Chorley, where two of the matches were not determined until the last green.

The hosts' ranks included two members of the team that won the event in 1995, plus a brace of Lancashire county players.

The highlight for Fulford was Kevin Miller's superb 4 and 3 victory in which he started the inward nine with an eagle followed by two successive birdies.

Scores (Fulford names first): Paul Foulger (5 handicap) lost 3 and 2 to Steve Ainscough (scratch); Chris Dale (5) lost to David Holden (2) two down; Kevin Miller (2) beat Bill Bromilow (1) 4 and 3; Steve Dunn (2) lost to Richard Kilshaw (1) one down.

HEAVY rain ended the misery for the York side in their Yorkshire Inter-Union League fixture against East Riding at Forest Park GC.

Trailing 11-1 in the foursomes, the singles were abandoned due to a water-logged course. Each team was awarded 12 points for a final scoreline of 23-13 to East Riding.

With one round of matches still to play the current placings are: East Riding 10 points, Bradford 9, Sheffield 8, Leeds 8, Teesside 5, York 4, Halifax-Huddersfield 3, Harrogate 1.

TEENAGER Glen Renton got an early taste of success when the 15-year-old 24-handicapper joined with Dave Reed and guests Rob Coates (Pike Hills) and Arthur Williams (The York) to win the Forest of Galtres GC Am-Am invitation with 97 points.

They finished two shots ahead of Tony Young (FOG), John Sykes, Nigel Skelton and Dave King (Fulford).

Meanwhile, BBC Radio York's Children in Need Annual Golf Challenge is being held at Forest of Galtres on Sunday, September 16.

The competition is for teams of four and entry is £100 per team. Applications should be forwarded direct to the golf club.

SUCCESS at the double was the preserve of Linda Johnson who won the Kilnwick Percy GC Anne Beharrell Cup (Lady Captain's Day Medal) with a nett 68. She also won the nearest the pin prize on the sixth hole.

Second in the medal was Anne Beharrell on nett 70 with Carol Kilford third. Iona Buckle won the longest drive award.

The Junior Open was won by Kyle Mathers, who also had the best gross score of 80. Mathers also claimed the nearest the pin prize.

In the final of the junior match-play honours went to Toby Gowthorpe, a six and four winner over Scott Pavis.

THERE was a fine one-two triumph for Pike Hills GC's Ray Dowdall.

The 14-handicapper won both the Coronation Trophy, ahead of Gerald Smith, and the Ware Cup, where he beat Robert Hamilton.

The married couples' Cawood Trophy was won by Mr and Mrs McRobbie with a nett 61 ahead of Mr and Mrs Laughlin on 63.

Janet Stirk won Fulford GC's August extra medal with a three-under-par 71, two shots ahead of her nearest rival.

Updated: 11:06 Saturday, September 01, 2001