ONE shot too many foiled Julian Taylor's bid to defend the Yorkshire Amateur Championship.

The York Golf Club ace produced a tournament-best 67 in the final round at Fulford Golf Club but finished a single stroke adrift of Meltham's Jamie Bower on five-under-par.

Taylor, who won the prestigious crown at Alwoodley 12 months ago, began with an opening 70 but two subsequent rounds of 73 left him five adrift of England Golf player Bower going into the last 18 holes.

But he rallied in sensational fashion, putting pressure on from the opening hole - which Bower double bogeyed.

His opponent had to hole a gutsy birdie on 17 to keep a narrow one shot cushion going down the last and, after Taylor's long eagle attempt narrowly failed to find the cup, Bower sank a nerveless three footer to claim glory.

Disappointed not to have won it again having come so close, Taylor was still proud of his defence and is keen to take his final round form into the Clipper Logistics Players Championship at Moor Allerton next week - where he will go head-to-head with the EuroPro Tour professionals.

"I was five back going into the last round and I knew I had to shoot a good score," Taylor said. "I have played with Jamie for a long time - since juniors. I gave it a good effort and all credit to Jamie.

"It's a bit disappointing (to be runner-up) but I am happy with the way I played in the afternoon in the last round. Hopefully I can take this form into next week and play as well as I did in the last round. I feel I can definitely make the cut there and, if I play well, I think I can win."

Champion Bower paid tribute to Taylor, saying: "Julian had a lot of birdies through the middle stretch of the round. I had a double on the first, which is not the best start and recovered it a little bit after that.

"He came at me really hard and, through the middle of the round and towards the back end of the round, had a lot of birdies. He drew level with me on 17 with a birdie and I also managed to birdie it to nudge one ahead. We both birdied the last and he had a real charge."

Bondhay's Daniel Wasteney finished third while, of the York and North Yorkshire contingent, The Oaks' James Walker was next best to Taylor in ninth on 291.

James Cass was top of the Fulford class in 11th and rounds of 75, 72, 74 and 73 pushed his handicap to +1.

"I played really solidly and struck it nicely," he said. "I definitely feel like I can contend and, next year, I will be going for the British and English Amateurs along with Open qualifying. It has been a very solid week."

Eight time York amateur champion Martin Brown was 13th on 297 and rued troubles with the front nine that blunted his challenge.

He explained: "I played well. I was just disappointed with the front. On the third day, I was four over both times going over the bridge and was three over in the first round.

"It hit it well. It was just the front nine and you can't win trophies like that."

Malton & Norton's David Hague was unable to replicate the form which saw him streak to MacKenzie Salver victory at the Heslington course last week. After a 15th place finish, he said: "I left a lot of shots out there on the greens compared to last week. But I took a lot from it. The course was really good - the greens were true."

Home favourite Damon Coulson, the Fulford club champion, was 17th and, after a "frustrating"week, the star amateur said he was likely to stay in the unpaid ranks for another season.

"There were two rounds where I have played well for nine holes," Coulson said. "I have only played 18 holes of good golf and it was not the standard I would like. It's been a frustrating week. On the positive, I wasn't playing very well but still made the cut and was fairly high up the leaderboard.

"I will play again next year. I think I will stay as an amateur for another season to get a bit more experience. I am still young enough to be able to do that."

Sandburn Hall's Will Adamson has a scratch handicap firmly in his sights following rounds of 77, 75, 72 and 75. Now off 0.6, he said: "I played pretty well. I played my best on the first day but I took an eight on 17. Otherwise, I hit it well and putted well. I am down to 0.6 now and I will be trying to get to scratch by the end of the year."

Reflecting on the tournament, Gary Pearce, Fulford general manager, said: "We are delighted with the way it has gone. The standard of play has been excellent and this new format, in my opinion, will reflect the true Yorkshire champion over four days.

"It seems to be a format that the players have embraced. The course has been very well received. No-one has beaten the course and the amount of rain we had on the first day has made it play quite long.

"It has been a really good test of golf and I can't see how it could have gone any better. We are very happy."