ROUTE 66 helped Nathan Wilkinson to York Union of Golf Clubs’ Fletcher Trophy glory.

The 19-year-old, rapidly tumbling down the handicap ranks at Sandburn Hall GC, put together the stunning round at Forest of Galtres GC to beat Kirkbymoorside’s Carl Pickering by three shots.

Wilkinson, who lives in Tang Hall, had never before played the Skelton course but he began and finished his round with three successive pars as he carded a gross 85 and a nett 66.

The victory kept the trophy in the cabinet at Flaxton-based Sandburn Hall, whose Steve Kennedy scooped the honours 12 months ago. Member Lee Copley has also won the event in recent years.

Wilkinson said: “I was really happy with that. It was an up and down round. I started off with three pars but I got into a bit of bother on the fourth - found the water hazard - and took a double bogey.

“It was steady away after that but I finished with three pars at the end. I am really happy. I went home for a couple of hours and went back for the presentation.

“I didn’t know how I was getting on but I am thrilled. I have worked hard on my golf game over the last year to improve. This shows that practise does pay off. I just thought of it as a normal round. I didn’t think anything of it and just went in to see what happens.”

Having shot the best competitive round of his life at Forest of Galtres, Wilkinson, who has been playing golf for about three years, has now set himself ambitious targets for the rest of the season.

He added: “In a medal last year, I went round in six under but I was playing off 24 then. This will be my best round in a competition.

“I think there is a bit more to come. I am hoping to play in as many competitions as I can and, by the end of the season, I would like to get down to about an 11 or 12 handicap.”

Kirkbymoorside’s Jonny Pattenden and Alex McGill claimed the first of the Union’s summer events - the Kitching Trophy.

The duo posted a fine 64 to win, holding off a trio of pairs from York GC. Steve Faulkner and Chris Metcalfe and Dave Varley and John Carr both posted 65s but it was the former who bagged the runners-up spot on countback.

Steve Arundel and Rob Taylor were fourth with 67.