FORMER ring king Henry Wharton proved he had plenty of clout out on the course on the golf title trail.

Ten-handicapper Wharton and his Fulford Golf Club playing partner Adam Newton (5) went the distance with a power-packed display to lift the York Union of Golf Clubs' Lewis Trophy with 47 points.

The duo dominated the Forest Park course, where they finished ahead of the field by a mightily impressive five points.

Their card was a knockout delight showing just one five, ten fours and seven threes for a score representing a round of 12-under par. It was a remarkable run considering the low handicaps of the two players, who have featured as a duo in York Union events for close on three years.

Wharton declared the victory to have been 'a long time coming', adding: "We've been close in Union competitions like this many times, but somehow we've let it slip away.

"We've never won one and lately we've both been wondering whether we would ever win one. Now our day has come. It was brilliant.

"This time it was a day when everything went so well. We never dropped a shot and the scoring was phenomenal really."

Wharton, the one-time undefeated European, Commonwealth and British super-middleweight boxing champion, saluted the performance of his 20-year-old playing partner Newton, who has been on the green-keeping staff at Fulford for just over a year.

"He hits the ball a tremendously long way so that the par-fives at Forest Park were always within our reach," enthused Wharton.

"Adam is such a good player that I am certain it won't be long before he is playing off scratch."

The one-time king of the ring also hailed the contribution of Easingwold duo Mick Smith and Andy Pepper, who chivvied the Fulford duo along during their flawless round.

"They realised that we were on our way to a great score and they helped to keep us going. They certainly played their part in what was a memorable day," added Wharton.

"And the Forest Park course was in magnificent condition, especially the greens."

Since retiring from the fight game in 1999 and replacing spar wars with par wars, Wharton explained that his double-up triumph with Newton had ended some ribbing from within his 'golfing' family.

"My brother Dave has won this trophy before, my cousin Dean has won it twice and my brother in-law Jim Batt has also won it two or three times, so I've taken a bit of stick. But now Adam and me have broken our duck."

The second and third placings in the Lewis Trophy were determined on count-back.

The runners-up slot went to Malton and Norton GC captain Eddie Ruddock and his partner Eddie Fisher to pip the Heworth duo of Chris Franklin and Pete Long after both pairings totalled 42 points.

LINDA Gurnell is to be the new general manager of Fulford GC to succeed Ian Mackland, who has retired.

Gurnell, whose previous role was at the mid-Yorkshire club of Darrington, will take up her new post on May 24.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Burns enjoyed a seven-stroke win with a nett four-under-par 70 in Fulford ladies' medal competition. Emma Ludwell (77) and Evelyn Low (86) were second round qualifiers for the club championship.

Malcolm Sunderland won the Victory Cup first round by two strokes and then saw Stewart Gregory hole in one at the 14th in a week to remember and not as reported in last week's Evening Press.

PETER Cregan enjoyed an ace way to round off a match.

He and partner Brian Olive were being challenged by Bob Mason and Andy Loughrey in the final of the men's pairs winter knockouts at Forest Park GC. So what else to do, but for Cregan to post a hole in one on the 14th to seal victory. Now that's style.

THIRTEEN was far from an unlucky number for Forest of Galtres GC's Dave Varley.

The 13-handicapper won the Spring stableford with 43 points. The club's greensomes strokeplay tournament was won by Bob Bailey and Allen Clamp, who finished four shots ahead of Brian and David Hough.

Updated: 10:11 Saturday, May 08, 2004