BY GEORGE – a new name has been engraved on the York Amateur Golf Championship trophy.

Fulford Golf Club ace George Forder was crowned the new champion after prevailing in the most atrocious of conditions when the York Union of Golf Clubs’ event was held at Heworth GC.

But the triumph for Forder was not without drama, nor a drenching, as so bad was the downpour that the second round was cut by half to just nine holes.

After the 27 holes Forder and his Fulford GC team-mate Rob Moore were locked on 105 – Forder scoring 69, the best score of the morning, and then 36. Moore, meanwhile, shot a 33 over nine rounds to add to his full round 72.

That prompted a play-off for the Fulford cohorts over Heworth’s testing last three holes.

Moore had the better drive down the first extra hole, splitting the fairway some 20 yards ahead of Forder, who had found the left rough.

But both found the green with their second shots and each parred the hole to stay on level pegging.

The second play-off hole – the par-three 17th has a split level green and, after their respective tee-shots, Moore was the nearest.

However, Forder sank a ten-footer for birdie which proved to be the decisive shot of the day. With Moore’s shorter uphill birdie putt missing the cup, Forder had the advantage going in to the final play-off hole.

Moore knew he had to win the hole to stay in the hunt for the title, but both men parred it leaving Forder, who finished in the top four last year, to be declared the winner.

Forder’s conquest ended the fiveyear reign of defending champion Martin Brown.

The Pike Hills ace, who has won six amateur crowns – the last five consecutively – was among the last three out in the morning round alongside Forder and Malton & Norton GC’s Chris Halley, who recently qualified for the final of the prestigious Brabazon Trophy.

While Forder carded his 69, Brown could only muster a 75, which left him way off the running, with Halley just a shot better off.

The persistent rain would not let up forcing the trimming of the second rouund by half.

A 35 from York GC’s Julian Taylor, just back from America, where he won a major colleges award, gave him third place.