Malton and Norton Golf Club's Emma Duggleby has enjoyed a champion flourish to the season.

The Curtis Cup star was crowned the Champion of Champions after a superb debut at The Belfry.

Coming through six knockout rounds, Emma took her place in the six-strong final, where she prevailed with a superb 72 against a par of 73. It was her first experience of the renowned course of which she said: "It was a lot tighter than I thought and there was a lot more water than I expected, so it was good to stay out of any of that."

The women's ace was also part of the England squad that romped to victory in the Home Internationals, where Scotland, Ireland and Wales were all sent careering to defeat in the round-robin tournament.

Just before that Emma was in the Yorkshire team that won the county championships at Brancepeth Castle. After halving with Gloucestershire, the White Rose women walloped Northampton 8- and were leading Hampshire 2-1 before rain wiped out the contest leaving Yorkshire as winners.

Malton and Norton GC pro Steve Robinson was also in excellent end of season form. Joint first with John Oates (Renishaw Park) in the Yorkshire PGA Masters in Middlesbrough, he gained second places in the Midland event at Woodhall Spa and the East Riding Alliance at Brough, where his 66 was two adrift of winner, Gary Brown of Ganton GC.

As an added fillip, the Yorkshire boys' team coached by Robinson won the English crown for an unprecedented fourth straight year.

Pike aces on rise

PIKE Hills GC continue to soar salmon-like in team competitions.

After the club's scratch team netted the YUGC League division one title, the Askham Bryan-based club scooped the honours in the Union's four-man team championship held at Kirkbymoorside GC.

The host club led by two shots from Pike Hills with York in third after the morning round. The Pike quartet of Martin Brown (74 69), Adrian Lount (80 74), Adam Newton (69 75) and Russ Chilton (79 76) cranked up the afternoon pressure to ease past Kirkbymoorside with a 596 total.

Kirkbymoorside's team of Andrew Holmes (75 78), John Spanton (73 77), Phil Butler (76 79) and Kevin Magson (76 75) totalled 609 for second, while third place went to the Fulford foursome of Scott Brannan (87 79), Jamie Miller (69 75), Matthew Lord (78 71) and Steve Dunn (79 76) on 614.

Gordon's got it All

KELLY'S eye was in at Allerthorpe Park GC's midweek medal. Gordon Kelly had the lowest net - a three-under-par 67 - and the lowest gross of 72 on a day when conditions were so testing the standard scratch score rose two strokes to 72.

Clout of Thomas

TEENAGER Thomas Stead is in good stead after celebrating his first hole-in-one. The 16-year-old 28 handicapper's ace was at Forest of Galtres' 173-yard sixth hole.

Grad all over

FULFORD GC's monthly medal was won by James Gradwell with an eight-under 64 to trim his handicap from 13 to 11.

Updated: 10:51 Saturday, September 24, 2005