BATHROOM specialist Adrian Lount has tapped right into a hard-working winter to get off to a flier.

The Pike Hills Golf Club ace came away with the Hawksworth Trophy, one of the eminent prizes on the Yorkshire Order of Merit calendar.

The 27-year-old triumphed in the prestigious event at Bradford GC, where he finished the 36-hole event one shot clear of the field, his nearest rival being Fulford GC’s Ashley Simpson.

“I shot a two-over-par 73 in the morning and then a one-under 70 in the afternoon, but the funny thing was I effectively knew what I had to do over the last few holes.

“As Ashley came off the 18th I was on the 11th tee where the scoreboard was. I knew Ashley’s score was the best so that gave me a guide as to what I was aiming for.”

It was the third such Yorkshire Order of Merit event he had captured following on from bagging the Cleveland Salver and the Bingley Salver.

But those successes were several years ago and Lount was just glad to be back on such a triumphant track.

Said the scratch handicap player: “It was about six years ago when I won those, so it’s really good to be back to winning trophies again and with it being so early in the season it should give me more confidence for even more success this year.”

Lount attributed his comeback to conquest on more regular practice during the winter aided by sessions with Pike Hills GC pro Iain Tailby.

He explained that in setting up his business, Bluewater Bathrooms – bathroom fitting specialists on Clifton Moor – he had not been able to devote over much time to golf.

But now his business was more established, he had put in more hours of solid practice, said the player, currently in his 15th year as a member at Pike Hills GC.

“I don’t think I’d have won this if it hadn’t been for Ian at the club. His input has been immense since I started extra practice from January,” said Lount.

“As an amateur working full-time to still keep up with golfers who play all day and every day provides quite a thrill to me. It certainly keeps me interested in having a go at the Yorkshire competitions.

“Now with this under my belt so early in the season, I’m looking ahead to having more success.”

York Union of Golf Clubs’ county team stalwart Lount praised too the atmosphere engendered by a core of ace players at his club.

He said: “It’s helped as well in that I am a member of the Pike Hills team which won the Yorkshire first division championship last year. That’s given us all a winning mentality and that helps a lot in keeping your confidence at a competitive level.”

Allerthorpe Park GC has still got a few places left for this year’s gents’ AM-AM.

The event, on June 8, is a four-ball stableford team event with ¾ of 28 handicap limit and the cost per team is £60.

Said James Drinkall, Allerthorpe Park’s head professional: “The course is looking great and this may be a chance to play the course if you haven’t done before to experience what people mean when they say it is a ‘hidden gem’.”

To enter or for more information email enquiries@allerthorpeparkgolfclub.com or phone 01759 306686.

SELBY GC’s Eliot Grant won Fulford GC’s St Leonard’s Hospice annual tournament with 46 stableford points.

The event has raised £210,000 in the 21 years ago.

tony.kelly@thepress.co.uk