DAVID HAGUE fired a warning shot across the bows of next week's Yorkshire Amateur Championship field after dominating the MacKenzie Salver at Fulford Golf Club.

The Malton & Norton Golf Club ace produced rounds of 67 and 68 in a superb nine-under-par total at the Heslington course on Wednesday to beat the home club's George Forder by four shots.

Forder produced impressive efforts of 69 and 70 himself as he finished five shots clear of Nigel Sweet in third but it was the 19-year-old reigning York junior champion who swept to victory and installed himself as one of the favourites when the county's best players descend on Fulford from Tuesday until Thursday next week to compete in the Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs' prestigious championship.

Hague said that, following a stop-start season so far, the MacKenzie victory had given him enormous confidence ahead of the Amateur, which will see the matchplay format ditched this year in favour of four rounds over three days.

"I was really pleased," Hague said. "My long game still wasn't where I want it to be but you are always going to miss fairways and greens in every round you play. My short game, though, was as good as I have had it all year.

"If I missed a green I was chipping to within six feet every time and I was holing putts from all over. The field was obviously very good because of the Yorkshire Amateur next week - players were using the competition as practice rounds - and it proves I can play good golf under pressure.

"In each round I only had one bogey so it was very steady golf. I was two-under going out in the morning and three-under coming back and then one-under going out in the afternoon.

"I finished with a couple of birdies in the last three holes and I was very pleased with how I completed the round."

With Hague's combined score of 135 the best he has ever shot in competition, he added: "It is the first event where I feel I have almost dominated it. I was very pleased and got a lot of confidence from it. It was only the second time my dad has caddied for me all year and I've already told him he is on the bag again next week.

"It is almost a better feeling to have done it in a big field against the best players in the Yorkshire area and I am really looking forward to the Amateur now. It has given me so much confidence and, hopefully, I will be able to do something similar next week."

Gary Pearce, Fulford general manager, added: "The course was playing well and they were two great scores that David put together. That should stand him in good stead for next week. Players like David, and George Forder, will take a lot of confidence from that into the Amateur Championship here next week."