HISTORIC success was achieved by the York Union of Golf Clubs' representative ranks.
For only the third time, York captured the Yorkshire Inter-District Union scratch league title with the conquest sealed after arch-rivals Sheffield were downed at a gale-lashed Fulford Golf Club.
The victorious 'home' ranks were led by Pike Hills GC ace Martin Brown bolstered by non-playing captain, and fellow Pike Hills GC stalwart, Russ Chilton.
The morning foursomes proved the key to the win. Of the six pairs who set off, two finished early to put York on the right path.
York GC's Julian Taylor and Craig Smith of Pike Hills closed out their match on the 17th hole while the axis of George Forder (Fulford) and David Hague (Malton & Norton) posted a runaway 6 & 5 win on the 13th.
The remaining four games all went to the 18th, but York's collective nerve held firm by collecting another two wins and a halved match to tee up what proved an unassailable 9-3 lead at lunch.
That left York needing just five wins from the afternoon singles to secure victory.
First out against England International Joe Dean from Lindrick, skipper Brown wrapped up the first points on the 17th hole.
Taylor, playing in the game behind, recorded another 2 & 1 win, while James Walker of The OaksGC added a 2 up win on the 18th.
The York advantage widened after Will Pepper (Sandburn Hall) halved the 13th to claim a second 6 & 5 win.
While a brace of 2 & 1 successes for Nick Poppleton and Gary Fullwood – both members of Wath GC – gave Sheffield some hope, it was soon extinguished.
Fulford GC's Damon Coulson (Fulford) holed a putt on the 16th to claim a 3 & 2 win, and Smith – all square playing on the last – holed a monster 54-foot eagle putt to finish 1 up.
Although Sheffield took the remaining games to level the singles, the overall match score of 21- 15 put York firmly at the top of the table.
With only one match left – against Teesside at Billingham next month - York now cannot be caught, but they still aim to round off the season with a full complement of wins before targeting the six-man team championship at Cookridge GC on September 14.
Meanwhile, YUGC's re-arranged Lewis Trophy event was won by Sandburn Hall GC pairing Adrian Whiteley and David Marsay at Kirkbymoorside.
Their better-ball stableford score of 42 points sealed the honours on a wind-lashed day after the event had been washed out from the beginning of July.
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