York Golf Club youngster Julian Taylor has achieved county recognition.
The 18-year-old, the lowest handicap player at York, on plus-1, followed a joint-second finish at the Cleveland Salver – a Yorkshire Order of Merit qualifier – with fourth place in the York Rose Bowl on his home ground, where he missed out on the play-off by just one shot.
Between these events, he competed for York in the Yorkshire Union sixth division team championship at Cobble Hall GC, where his gross score of 137 was the best on the day and prompted county selection.
Having played against Lincolnshire in a friendly, Taylor won his first official county cap when picked to play against Cheshire in the Northern Counties Championship where he won his foursomes match and halved his first-ever single.
York club captain Alan Hunter said: “The members are extremely proud of Julian and his achievements. His attitude to the game is exemplary – reminiscent of quality players of old – and he is a shining example to our other juniors on not just what can be done, but how it should be done.”
The York Rose Bowl was the Strensall-based York GC’s second major championship in two weeks, following the English Women’s Senior Championship. It was won by Joe Walker, of Moor Allerton GC.
Golfers came from all over Yorkshire and beyond for the tournament, which has been held annually for nearly 40 years and is now one of the 20 that contribute to the Yorkshire Order of Merit. The field is limited to 66 players, with the cut this year being made at a handicap of 2.9. There were 15 players of plus-1 or better.
Overnight rain put the competition in doubt but excellent work by the greenkeepers made the course fit for action, though winds still made scoring tricky.
Walker (69 69) tied for the lead with England international Roger Roper (71 67), from Wike Ridge GC, before winning the sudden-death play-off on the second hole.
Martin Brown, of Pike Hills GC, who scored a remarkable 31 over the back nine, Taylor, and Ashley Simpson, of Fulford GC, had been joint-leaders after the first round.
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