MIKE BRIDGE and Stephen Simpson suffered Cross Trophy agony when the latest rounds of the York Union of Golf Clubs’ winter fourball betterball competition was staged.

The Flaxby duo recorded a superb nett score of 59 at The York Golf Club, in Strensall, but were disqualified after committing a basic scorecard error.

The pair failed to check that the betterball score had been recorded against the correct player and what would have been a two-shot win was eradicated.

Graham Hayden and George Walker, of Aldwark Manor, were in early with a 61 but they were overtaken by club colleagues Wayne Palmer and Gary Estabrooks, whose countback score over the last six holes was better.

Both pairs would win prizes but they were eclipsed by Scarthingwell’s Kevin Morrall and Richard Best. Their 61 saw them triumph with a better back-nine score.

Amazingly, the same error was also committed at Kirkbymoorside in the sixth round of the trophy.

Home club pair Ian and Andy Stead wouldn’t have received a prize after their 65 was wiped off the books, while two further pairs were left with a no return and a disqualification for not signing their card respectively.

None of that could take away from the victory of Heworth stalwart Jim Batt who, along with his son Jim Batt junior, won with a score of 61.

That was two shots better than the 63 recorded by former European Tour professional Jamie Miller and boxing star Henry Wharton.

Richard Brown and Brian Lawson, of Malton & Norton, were pushed into third place on countback with Gary Herbert and Alan Hay, representing Easingwold, in fourth.

In the aggregate scores, Fulford have slightly increased their lead in the table and are now 14 strokes ahead of Malton & Norton. They, in turn, have one shot in hand over Kirkbymoorside.

The final two Cross Trophy events of 2014 take place at Malton & Norton and Sandburn Hall on November 16. Two-tee starts will be in operation.

The York Union dinner dance and presentation will be held at York Racecourse on November 22.
 

- SANDBURN Hall golfer Richard Johnson, 46, was celebrating when he scored a hole in one at the Flaxton course's par-three 198-yard 13th hole in a recent club competition. The ten handicapper receives a limited edition BOSS watch for his efforts