Scott Barber won the Leeds Cup – the oldest tournament in professional golf – to earn a first big win and a career best prize of £3,000 when he birdied the sixth extra hole of a dramatic four-man play-off at Leeds (Cobble Hall) yesterday.
Barber, based at Wakefield club Waterton Park, joined former European Tour star Paul Eales and North Region giants John Harrison and Simon Edwards in the marathon after they tied on eight under par after 54 holes.
All had chances for glory as th
ey returned to the uphill 172-yards 18th.
On the fifth visit Edwards was eliminated with a bogie but on the sixth trip Barber, who had saved himself three times with dynamic chipping after his ball had spun back off the green, almost holed in one as his 6-iron pitched behind the hole, spun back and lipped out, this time to a couple of feet.
Barber said: "I've spent the last few years teaching others the game but now I'm giving myself more time to play and it's unbelievable to win this event."
Leading final scores: 199 - P Eales (Northern Rock) 67 68 64, J Harrison (Matfen Hall) 66 68 65, S Edwards (Clays) 66 68 65, S Barber 66 67 66 (Barber won at sixth extra hole). 200 - F Kelley (Malton & Norton) 68 68 64, A Belt (Bridlington Links) 65 69 66. 202 - N Ludwell (Selby) 69 68 65. 203 - V Guest (Teesside) 68 68 67, M Bradley (Chorley) 69 67 67, J Cheetham (Marriott Worsley Park) 66 67 70, J Lupton (Middlesbrough) 66 67 70.
Other Yorkshire scores included: 204 - A Ambler (Walton Golf Centre) 69 71 64, J Wells (Cherry Burton) 69 69 66.
Ends
The full article contains 292 words and appears in EP Leeds First & County newspaper.
