JUNIOR golf in York is to address striking a major impact on the country scene next year.

That's the bold plan afoot in the York Union of Golf Clubs' junior section, where an upswing of upcoming talent has convinced organisers to widen its competitive range to the broad acres of Yorkshire.

York Union junior co-ordinator Stephen Forsey revealed to the Evening Press that it is keen to join the highly-competitive Yorkshire League in 2006. The York bid is currently being finalised and is expected to be submitted in time for the thriving York ranks to pit their skills against the might of county Unions like those in Sheffield and Leeds.

Enthused Forsey, who has been involved in the coaching of youngsters at The Oaks Golf Club since 1997, and took control of the York junior section at the start of this year: "We have now got such a calibre of youngsters from a wide range of clubs in the York Union that we feel we can match the best in Yorkshire.

"This is definitely by far the best group of youngsters I have worked with and they will get even better if they can take on the likes of the Sheffield Union, which boasts more than 30 clubs, and Leeds, where there are almost as many clubs."

To further hone the teenagers for the more taxing competition, Forsey is in the process of organising intensive training camps at The Oaks GC academy, where the current teaching professionals of Graham Walker and Lysa Jones will be augmented by Malton and Norton GC pro Steve Robinson. Both Walker and Robinson were this year named among the leading 25 training pros in the country.

"We hope to run the first of these week-long sessions at The Oaks during the October half-term and then through the winter so the team are ready for the start of the Yorkshire season in April," added Forsey.

The one-time Oaks GC captain has been supremely encouraged by the pool of talent in the York Union, where no fewer than eight of the 12 member clubs are regularly represented in the junior team.

Currently the team boast a record of four wins out of five this season before heading to Hunley Hall to play their Teesside counterparts on Monday.

The latest success was a convincing win over the Harrogate Union at Heworth GC.

York triumphed in all six foursomes matches in sweltering conditions. Fulford's Scott Brannan (playing off a handicap of four) and Nick Marchant (5) from Forest of Galtres, led the way with a 5 and 3 success, while Daniel Leaf (7) from Fulford and Gareth Ashton (5) from Forest Park won 3 and 2.

Harrogate initially applied stern pressure in the afternoon singles, but the York lads countered strongly to take command.

Brannan continued his winning ways over Brian Wood winning 3 & 2, followed by Marchant beating Josh Bassett (2 up). Malton and Norton GC's 14-year-old debutant Alex Wiggins (3) rallied from one down at the turn to win one up against Rob Bellerby, while there were also wins for Easingwold's Mark Christie (4), Heworth player Chris Farnsworth (6) and Ashton to seal an emphatic 25-11 conquest.

Updated: 10:48 Saturday, August 27, 2005