Stewart Parkin is back on the road to glory - and that's a testament to an iron fortitude.

After blasting on to the circuit with successive York Union Match-play championships victories in 2002 and 2003, Parkin's progress was stalled by an horrific road accident which kept him out of action for close on a year.

Driving near his home in Whitby after a lengthy holiday in Australia, where he was staying with family, Parkin was involved in an accident in which all his ribs on his left side were smashed. It was close on ten months before he was able to pick up a golf club in anger again, which meant that 2004 was a virtual write-off.

But not only is he back behind the wheel again, Parkin is again negotiating all the hazards thrown in his way by a game he first played some eight years ago. Now at the age of 20, the one-handicapper is proving once more to be a potent force.

He has just crowned his comeback year, in which he has re-established himself as one of the leading prospects in the York Union of Golf Clubs' county team, with a valiant victory.

Parkin won the Issott Trophy, the individual honour that is up for grabs as part of the YUGC's team championship which was held at Kirkbymoorside GC.

The 19-year-old Parkin, who plays off one, started the second round one shot adrift of Adrian Lount (Pike Hills) and Fulford's former tour professional Jamie Miller. But the Malton and Norton prospect posted the best afternoon round of 72 to add to his morning 70 to capture the Issott crown.

Said Parkin: "I am slowly getting back to some sort of form, so it was really good to finish the season with a victory.

"The accident meant that I never really played at all during 2004 after a couple of years when I had had some good successes.

"Now I can go into the winter and compete in the East Riding and Scarborough Alliance competitions boosted by that win."

Originally an adventurous right-back, who earned a place with his brother Graham at the schools of excellence run by Scarborough FC and Hull City, Stewart and his elder brother opted to have a go at golf about eight years ago.

"I stuck at it and it became my chosen sport," recalled Parkin, who has recently rejoined his hometown Whitby club, where he first started to play.

It was after venturing to other courses that Parkin's game began to advance, a progression that was further boosted when he became a member at Malton and Norton under the tutelage of teaching pro Steve Robinson.

"Steve was one of the main reasons I went there," said Parkin. "I had come across him in training with the Yorkshire juniors so that convinced me to join Malton."

Parkin added that all the injuries from his accident had completely healed meaning he was keen to re-launch his golfing career. Buoyed by the Issott Trophy and some sterling performances for the York Union team he is looking ahead to 2006 with a re-fuelled enthusiasm.

Updated: 10:52 Saturday, September 24, 2005