FRESH from storming into York amateur golf’s record books Martin Brown will start his advance on reaching the game’s greatest professional competition – The Open.

Pike Hills Golf Club titan Brown blitzed his way into York folklore when he captured the York Union of Golf Club’s amateur championship for the fifth year in succession.

But this week represents an even more daunting challenge.

On Monday the self-employed plumber heads to Harrogate’s Pannal GC for the regional qualifying round for this year’s 140th Open championship at Royal St George’s course in Sandwich next month.

Straight from there he heads south to Devon and the Burnham and Berrow links course which is hosting the exacting four days of the Brabazon Trophy, one of the English game’s leading amateur tournaments.

Said the 31-year-old: “It’s going to be a busy week, but I am looking forward to it and my form is good at the moment, so here’s hoping I can do well in both events.”

There’s no doubt Brown is king of the modern-day York game.

His unbowed reign in the York Amateur event stretches back to 2007 and it is only the second time in the event’s 79-year history that such a high-five achievement has been accomplished.

The first time was by legendary York GC player Cyril Powell, who won the title from 1949 to 1953 consecutively.

He also won the same crown in five other years to take his tally to an unprecedented ten.

Brown’s nap hand was secured at Malton & Norton GC. Besides being his fifth such triumph on the spin it was also his sixth in the last ten years. That puts him second to Powell in the list of most Amateur crown successes.

Indeed, had he not been disqualified for a wrongly entered score in 2006 he would now be celebrating the unique feat of six consecutive amateur crowns on the bounce.

However, such a stirring six-timer will be on his agenda for next summer when he hopes to be able to defend his championship again.

His latest triumph was by two clear shots from his Pike Hills GC club-mate Craig Smith after champion Brown posted a level-par 72 followed by a four-under 68.

“After about six holes (of the second round) I was one in front and then when I got it to two under I knew I had a solid advantage,” he said.

“Getting five titles on the bounce is a big boost, especially as it’s only been done once before. It means I’ve got six in the last ten years and hopefully I will be able to try for six on the spin next year. It’s definitely something to aim at.”

Brown’s run of success was also tribute to the strength of the Pike Hills club as not only was Craig Smith runner-up – he also shot an afternoon four-under-par round of 68 – another Pike Hills stalwart, Russ Chilton, was sixth.

The Seward Trophy for junior players over one round, also at Malton & Norton, was won by Heworth GC’s Jack Hagyard.

NEWLY-CROWNED YUGC amateur champion Martin Brown shared in another glorious triumph.

He, Chilton, Smith and Rob Hamilton comprised a four-part Pike Hills’ contingent in the York Union of Golf Clubs’ scratch team to beat Bradford GC in an inter-district county match for the first time in decades.

The decisive 23-13 win at Heworth GC was York’s first over the crack Bradford ranks since 1988.

Besides the four Pike Hills players, the rest of the victorious team were Chris Halley and Richard Brown of Malton & Norton; captain Jim Batt and Dave Guthrie (both Heworth); Ashley Simpson and Lee Grant (both Fulford); James Walker (The Oaks) and Julian Taylor (York).

JANET Rushworth was in an ace groove after the Malton & Norton GC player holed in one at the club’s par-three 23rd hole.