Blooming Wright

Dean Wright (left) is pictured collecting his trophy from the York GC captain Harry H Everist

Leeds Golf Club's Dean Wright was the victor in the 21st annual Rose Bowl played over 36 holes at the Strensall-based course.

This year the top-drawer event attracted arguably the best field for many years. Of the 66-strong field, 54 boasted a handicap of two or less.

Wright's challenge came to the fore in the afternoon round. After having shot a two-over par 72 in the morning, the two-handicapper returned the best round of the competition with a 66.

A recent golfing holiday in Ireland had clearly sharpened up Wright's game as he sealed a two-stroke triumph over former Fulford and Filey ace Stephen East. Now out of Moortown GC, East recorded two rounds of 70 for a steady level-par 140.

Only seven rounds under par were posted throughout the day, competitors surprised by the speed of the greens in the morning before adapting better in the final round.

The Rose Bowl has now gone out of York environs for the last two years. Last spring Keighley's Philip Wood was the winner with Fulford GC's Jamie Miller, who has since turned professional, triumphant in 1997.ROUTE 66 paved the path to success for Fulford's Ken and Mike Hessay in the York Union of Golf Clubs' Kitching Trophy.Five-handicapper Ken, who has just recovered from a tendon injury that prevented him playing for most of last season, teamed up with his godson Mike, the assistant professional at Fulford, to prove a winning family team over the testing Fulford GC terrain.

While their score of 66 was matched by Terry Williams and James Duckett of Boothferry GC, the Hessays hit no less than five birdies on the back nine, eventually winning with a better countback over the final six holes.OAKDALE GC's Andrew Turner was in the prize money in a tough field in the Higgins Vulcan Trophy event at Lindrick GC.

Turner was one of seven players tied for joint 18th place after a five-over par total of 147 for the two rounds. The Oakdale assistant scored 75 and 72.

Next among the North Yorkshire contingent was Fulford GC assistant Guy Wills. He followed a one under par 70 with a wild 80 to be bracketed among four players on 150.Malton and Norton GC's Chris Tyson was three shots further back on 153 (74, 79), while Bridlington GC's Paul Harrison notched 154 (75, 79) to just get in the prize money.Only two players in the 122-strong field broke par for the two rounds. Vale of Llangollen's Matthew J Ellis and Heaton Moor's Michael Boothroyd both finished on 141, one under. Former Welsh international Ellis seized his first PGA North region title at the first extra hole of a dramatic play-off.PETER Jones won the first round of Fulford's Victory Cup with a net 67, two strokes in front of his six nearest rivals.

Eight players with scores of two under par 70 qualified for the match-play stages and they will be joined by eight qualifiers from the second round.

David Rose won Fulford's May medal with a five under par 67, while Bobby Elliott and David Felgate won the greensomes competition with a fine score of 641/2, three shots ahead of the field.IT was a week to remember for Mick Addinall at Kilnwick Percy GC.

Second in the midweek stableford with 38 points behind Gavin Lewis (40), Addinall and sons Jason and Mark were called off the course in a separate Bank Holiday event to drive back to York in time for Jason to witness the birth of his daughter, Chelsea.

Meanwhile, the ladies' May medal was won by Vivien Howson with a nett 73 ahead of Iona Buckle, who was second on countback from Carol Kilford after both posted scores of 75.

In the greensomes Chris Gunby and Andrew Thompson were the overall winners on 69 ahead of Brian Price and Ian Dodds on 72, and Mark Gatenby and Peter Williamson third on 73. DAVE Fotheringham, new captain of Exhibition Hotel Group Golf Society, surprised all members in his captain's drive in at the first competition of the season at Middlesbrough GC (Brass Castle).

All members were asked to guess the distance of his first drive and nobody came within 55 yards of the correct distance, Chris Berridge forecasting 220 yards to Fotheringham's hit of 275.

The society is in its second year having originally been formed from the Toft Green Golf Society.

Jeff Dobbin (Pike Hills), a nine handicap player, won the 18-hole stableford afternoon event with 37 points from Terry King, also Pike Hills, on 36, followed by Jim Collis (Forest of Galtres) 35 and Malcolm Huntington (Fulford) 33.The society have competitions on five Wednesdays each year, the remaining venues being Horsforth (June 16), Forest Pines (July 14), Scarcroft (August 11) and Knaresborough (September 8).YORK and District League football referee Malcolm Sunderland won Fulford's midweek medal on Wednesday to ease a year-long blow.

Last year he stood on the 18th tee in sight of a low score in the 60s, only to blow his chances with a horrendous 11 at the last hole.

But this week he made no mistake, winning with a nett 65, taking first place with a better inward half than Peter Jones, who also shot 65. Sunderland's round had its inevitable handicap consequences - he was pulled two shots from 20 to 18.

The referee's good form continued when he partnered fellow Fulford member Neil Bellamy to win the morning nine-hole betterball stableford at the British Left-Handers' Golf Association monthly competition at Ross-on-Wye.

Bellamy, playing off 15, won the main afternoon event with 33 points. Sunderland, a right-hander, was playing as a guest.

RUDDING Park Golf's first golf events co-ordinator is Linda Nicholls.

The thriving complex on the outskirts of Harrogate already boasts a strong female presence in its management tier.

The new arrival, who hails from Harrogate, will have responsibility for the smooth running of events that include four major competitions, including the One to One City Business championship, plus 150 corporate and society golf days.

A former advertising executive, conference organiser and golf shop retailer, Nicholls said: "I'm thrilled with the challenge. I will be dealing with society and corporate golf days from initial inquiry through to planning and hosting the event.

"I will also be managing the major tournaments here as well as the cardholder scheme and the marketing of the course."

Course owner Mark Mackaness added: "Linda has a sound knowledge of the industry and is more than able to cope with the level and variety of business at Rudding Park."TOP-CLASS golf is expected at Ganton GC next week.

No less than 14 players in the 82-strong field boast handicaps of scratch or less in the English Ladies' Close amateur championship from Tuesday to Saturday.MARTIN Ford must have thought that he had a chance of winning the Ford Rose Bowl qualifying round at Pike Hills.

Starting late in the afternoon when the best score was a nett 67, he came in with a gross 70, net 66, off a handicap of four.

But Phillip Williams had a superb gross 80, net 62, off a handicap of 18, to clinch victory and a place in the regional finals.ANN Parker won Fulford ladies section May medal with a four under par 74, four shots ahead of talented junior Jessica Lewis.

Louise Secker (72), Dorothy Elliott (80), Ann Robinson (76) and Trish Mitchell (78) qualified for the club championship.

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