OUT of the Rough and ready to celebrate 25 years of smooth success - that's the story of one of the area's top competitions.

The prestigious York Rose Bowl - a 36-hole open amateur scratch tournament - marks its silver jubilee when it is played at its York Golf Club home a week tomorrow.

Winners of the event read like a 'Who's Who' of Yorkshire golf over the last 25 years as it has firmly become established not just on the Strensall-based club's calendar, but also as part of the Yorkshire Order of Merit.

The Rose Bowl was the brainchild of Alex Rough, who, in 1977, persuaded The York GC to run the event. His vision has been amply rewarded with some of the area's top amateurs capturing a title that has grown in prestige and status over the last 25 years.

Retired Rowntree's accountant Rough, still a playing-member at York GC and now living appropriately in Fairway Drive on the outskirts of the city, told the Evening Press: "It's quite a boost to think that it has reached its 25th year and I hope it goes on for ever.

"I originally came to York from Edinburgh, where we had lots of open days, so as I got older I just wanted to give something back to the amateur game. Back then there was only the York Open and the York Amateur championship to aim at so I was on the committee at the club and put forward the idea of the event. That's how the York Rose Bowl started."

The now 66-year-old Rough revealed that he played in a few of the early events, though without success largely because he was actually helping to organise the event. But he is thrilled at how it has developed to regularly encompass the cream of the county's amateur players.

The first winner was Ian Mackenzie of the Hallamshire GC. Currently Yorkshire captain, he lifted the Bowl with a gross score of 135, a total that has never been bettered, though it was equalled 23 years ago by Ganton's Great Britain international, Mike Kelley.

Both Kelley and fabled Selby GC player Les Walker are the only twice-winners of the event. Kelley's brace was in 1980 and 1994 with Walker holding aloft the glittering prize in 1979 and 1984.

Stephen East, formerly of both Heworth and Fulford GC's and now playing out of Moortown, near Leeds, is the only triple winner. His successes were in 1986, 1989 and just two years ago. However, a long-term injury to the ligaments in an elbow has forced him out of this year's tournament.

However, the Rose Bowl boasts one record that no-one can match.

Shipley GC's Paul A Crosby holds the distinction of being the only competitor to have featured in every York Rose Bowl since its inception - the event was suspended in 1984 and 1985.

That tenure is a testament to his golf in that he has been able to sustain such a standard over the 25 years of the scratch event, especially in the last few seasons when there has had to be a ballot of players with a handicap of 2.

Hull GC's Richard J Coulson is the holder and he will be determined to retain the coveted championship on Sunday, May 11.

NO less than 11 of the area's professionals will be hoping they are in the correct groove next Wednesday in the Glenmuir Club Professional championship north-east qualifier at York GC.

Selby's Nick Ludwell and Ganton's Gary Brown open the event from 8am and will be proceeded by Martin Brown (Fulford); Simon Appleton (Ampleforth); Mike Nicholson and Andrew Turner (both Knaresborough); Andrew Hoyles (York); Richard Wood (Romanby); Tony Skingle (Scarborough South Cliff); Stephen Raybould (Bridlington Links) and Andy Marshall (Catterick).

Updated: 10:27 Saturday, May 03, 2003