SOUTH Yorkshire proved to be a happy hunting ground for Heworth's Neil Smith as he landed one of the county's major prizes.

Smith is pictured above with the Sheffield Plate Open Amateur Championship which he won at Hallamshire Golf Club to maintain his good form this season.

He saved the best till last, holding his nerve at the final hole to clinch the title by two shots.

"It was a par five and I knew I was in contention if I had one good shot. It was the best shot I played all day," said Smith.

He is now challenging for the Yorkshire Union's Order of Merit crown having finished in the top 20 in all the four tournaments he has played in this season.

There is no respite for Smith this weekend as he plays for Yorkshire at Durham today then contests the York Amateur Golf Championship at Malton and Norton tomorrow.

"I'm definitely hoping to do well in that one. I think I've got a chance of winning if I play my own game," added Smith, who was today playing for Yorkshire against hosts Durham in a Northern Counties League match at Brancepeth Castle.

Updated: 10:26 Saturday, June 02, 2001