Target: Brown Crown

That's the venue for the York Union of Golf Clubs competitive climax to the season - the match-play championship in which semi-finals and grand final will be played on the one day on Saturday, September 26.

In a rare occurrence, all four semi-finalists hail from four separate clubs reflecting the strength of competition in the Union.

For Pike Hills ace Martin Brown, the current holder, the setting could be the backdrop for a stunning triple crowning.

The 24-year-old plumber (pictured left) has already this summer landed the YUGC's Open and Amateur championships - a double achieved for the first time since 1970, when Fulford's John Linaker captured the gleaming Union one-two.

Brown, as match-play holder, plays in the opening semi-final against York GC's David Holder, who will be bidding to avoid a rather more unwanted treble. Holder was runner-up in the final in the year 2000 and also last year to Holder.

The second semi-final pitches Steve Lockwood of Heworth GC, now back to form and a York Union regular this season, against Fulford GC's rising star Matthew Lord. Still classed as a junior, Lord has recently represented the England junior ranks.

The final will follow the two semi-finals, the first of which tees off at 9.30am to signal what promises to be a derring-do day of tee-topping, fairway-burning and green-mastering action.

En route to the semi-finals Brown saw off Heworth's Alistair Smith, Holder eliminated York Union captain Neil Thompson (Scarthingwell), Lockwood ousted The Oaks' upcoming Phillip Dobson, while Lord won the all-Fulford battle against Matthew Kelly.

Euro kings

PORTUGAL could not have been any sunnier for Ganton GC professional Gary Brown and 18-year-old club amateur Michael Adamson.

The duo cruised to victory in the Lombard Trophy - Europe's biggest pro-am tournament - at the feted San Lorenzo course.

After an initial startling seven-under-par round of 63 the Ganton duo posted a seven-under 65 for a five-stroke victory.

Brown, who earned £10,000 for his efforts, purred over the contribution of his playing partner, who on both days bagged nett birdies on the 17th and 18th holes.

Enthused the Ganton pro: "Michael was a great partner. He can hit the odd wayward shot, but he's got a great eye and has a lot of bottle."

Steve's treble lift

Esteemed coach Steve Robinson is relishing in an historic treble.

The Malton and Norton GC professional, who has established himself as one of the north's leading coaches, witnessed the Yorkshire Boys' team set an unprecedented mark in the English Team Championship.

The Yorkshire Under-17 ranks, whom he coaches with Pete Cowen and The Oaks GC professional Graham Walker, landed the title for the third successive season, an accolade never before achieved in the national event's history.

Third time around, the White Rose youngsters had to be content with a share of the crown after tying with Essex in a close encounter at Broadstone in Devon. But as Robinson explained, the seven-strong Yorkshire team comprised five players new to the county circuit and all excelled.

Enthused Robinson: "We knew it would be quite tight and it did come down to a bit of a scrap. But the lads showed a lot of character. No side had ever won the national championship two years running until we did it last year, so we had set a standard for ourselves.

"The fact that five of the team are still eligible for 2005 bodes well."

Among the seven-strong team was Harrogate's upcoming prospect John Parry. However, he and Middlesbrough's Tom Robinson will be over the age limit for next year.

The other five members were Mike Hemstock (Hallowes), Dale Smith (Saltburn) and Sheffield-based trio Matthew Evans, Adam Hodgkinson and Daniel Willett.

On Forest fire

THERE was a Thompson stunner in the Forest of Galtres GC championship.

Five-handicapper Jeremy Thompson carded two excellent one-over-par rounds of 73 to be crowned the club's champion. His 146 total was no fewer than five shots clear of closest challenger Nick Marchant, who also plays off five. Marchant posted rounds of 74 and 77.

And it was not as if fellow contenders were unaware of the champion's excellent form. Just four days before the club championship, Thompson triumphed in the September midweek medal with a blistering nett 66.

In the club championship, third place went to Peter Renton on 157 (79 78) with Allan McDonald fourth on 158 (73 85).

Heworth high life

TEAM golf produced a lone triumph in which Heworth GC were in the vanguard.

The Muncastergate-based club ran away with the York Union of Golf Clubs Scratch League division one crown boasting the Union's only unbeaten record.

Heworth won eight of their ten outings, more than double the number of victories of any other club in the top-flight, to finish 20 points ahead of second-placed Fulford.

Both Malton and Norton and Scarthingwell were relegated to division two. They will be replaced by second division champions Kirkbymoorside, who return to the elite after a season's exile in division two, and runners-up Forest Park.

Rose for Maria

PARKS life was sweet in the York Union of Golf Clubs' Fulford Rose Bowl played at Forest Park GC.

The winner of the desired trophy was Maria Parks of the Forest of Galtres club. Her score of 68 was two shots better off than her nearest rivals.

Runner-up place went on count-back to Lisa Emberson of the host Forest Park club after she and Easingwold's Judy Clark both totalled 70. Fourth place, again on count-back, was taken by The Oaks' Carol Stuttard on 72.

Graham's gold

EASINGWOLD GC's Graham Rogers will get a first-hand glimpse of the world's top golfers after his fling in the HSBC Amateur Match-play Championship at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales.

Rogers may have been defeated in the first round by Cramlington's Ian Henderson by 6 and 5 in the 16-man finals, but he still bagged a pair of tickets to the HSBC World Match Play tournament at Wentworth on October 14-17.

Brown bombers

FULFORD GC captain Geoff Hawkins and Mike Rudd won the club's Arthur Brown Trophy with an eight-under 64, one clear of David and Daniel Leaf.

Jaram-boree

ALLERTHORPE Park's September medal winner was Robert Jaram, whose nett 64 was four clear of John Derrick and Ian Wallace.

Par force

CATH Hewerdine was the only player to beat par when winning Fulford GC's September medal with a nett 73, three shots ahead of the rest.

Updated: 10:28 Saturday, September 11, 2004