York golf clubs gear up for Aldwark Trophy (From York Press)

York golf clubs gear up for Aldwark Trophy

12:23pm Saturday 4th August 2012 in Sport

YORK Union of Golf Clubs’ is gearing up for one of its biggest weeks of the season.

The Aldwark Trophy is run on Thursday at Easingwold GC, and then a week tomorrow the action moves to Forest Park GC.

The club, which earlier this summer earned rave reviews for its hosting of a Yorkshire Professional Golfers’ Association competition, will be the venue for the Union’s prized Open Championship, alongside which the Seward Trophy for juniors is also run.

The Open event is over two rounds and last year the crown was won at Heworth GC by John Mellor, a professional at The Oaks GC in Aughton.

Mellor joined an illustrious list of winners, including Pike Hills ace Martin Brown, the area’s most successful amateur player over the last decade, and current Heworth pro Fraser Kelley, who was the winner in 2008 and 2010.

Meanwhile, teenager Bethany Acey was just pipped to victory in the Abraham Trophy.

The Sandburn Hall GC player lost the title of being England’s most improved girl golfer by one stroke to Kirsty Beckwith (Moortown) at Delamere Forest.

Acey posted a fine three-under-par 69 in the final only for Beckwith to shoot a 68.

The Abraham Trophy final was contested by 21 girls from all over the country based on their year of improvement throughout 2011.

• Charlotte Austwick, who like Acey is trained by England women’s coach Steve Robinson at Sandburn Hall, won Fulford GC’s David Melville Cup.

Playing off scratch she also took lowest gross honours with a 72, one clear of Helen Barugh.