Home club man Tom Hesketh, who tied second with Geordie Gordon Nesbitt, fired a second round 66 but came up two shots short of Wheatley's Brennan who had opened with a 67.

With four events left, the experienced Brennan is on course for his fourth Merit title, having claimed it in three successive seasons from 2001.

He leads the way by 128 points from Moortown's Nick McCarthy who renewed his challenge with a fourth place at Oakdale.

Brennan is unmatched for consistency. He did not win an event in either 2002 or 2003 yet was crowned Merit champion.

Oakdale Acorn leading scores: 140 – S Brennan (Wheatley) 67 73. 142 – T Hesketh (Oakdale) 76 66; G Nesbitt (Boldon) 71 71. 145 – N McCarthy (Moortown) 73 72. 146 – J Sloan (Brough) 75 71. 148 – J Lawrence (Moor Allerton) 74 74. 150 – C Wilding (Oakdale) 76 74; G Cuthbert (Pannal) 73 78. 151 – M Bennison (Knaresborough) 74 77. 152 – B Crowther (Dewsbury) 79 73; W Crick (Oakdale) 76 76.

Order of merit leaders: 794 – S Brennan (Wheatley); 666 – N McCarthy (Moortown); 625 – T Usher (Baildon); 530 – S Haywood (Rotherham), W Shucksmith (Alwoodley); 525 – J Maw (Hallowes); 466 – J Lawrence (Moor Allerton); 426 – R Law (Low Laithes); 400 – M Hammond (Wath); 390 – M Evans (Rotherham).

Meanwhile, Sam Jewell upstaged professionals to win the Bradford Open championship at Bingley St Ives in style with two rounds of 69.

The Yorkshire county player from Bradford (Hawksworth) edged the title by a shot from West Bradford man Warren Kemp and Baildon's Richard Masters, seeking to add to his victory of 23 years ago when he was the pro at South Bradford.

Defending champion Simon Bell finished fourth and won the Jim Wade Trophy for the best combined score in the Open and Amateur championships.

RESULTS

Yorkshire Under-16 championship (York). Leading scores: 141 – T Thornhill (Rotherham) 69 72. 145– G Johnson (Howley Hall) 76 69; J Fisher-Ulliott (Hornsea) 74 71. 146 – J McAllister (Tankersley Park) 73 73. 147 – J Taylor (York) 74 73; J Cartlidge (Wheatley) 74 73. 148 – W Whiteoak (Keighley) 77 71; D Hawksworth (Hollins Hall) 76 72; P Lockwood (Hessle) 75 73. 149 – S Young (Rotherham) 73 76; D Moon (Rotherham) 68 81. 150 – O Banks (Rotherham) 72 78.

Leeds Scratch League: Division 1 – Garforth 2, Wakefield 4; South Leeds 4, Howley Hall 2; Wike Ridge 6, Pontefract 0. Placings: Pontefract played 30, points 37; Wike Ridge 27-35; Howley Hall 30-32; Wakefield 30-29; Moortown 27-24; South Leeds 27-24; Garforth 27-12.

Division 2 – Moor Allerton 5, Selby 1; Normanton 6, Cookridge Hall 0; Temple Newsam 4, Leeds 2. Placings: Cookridge Hall 30-37; Normanton 27-33; Selby 30-33; Horsforth 27-32; Moor Allerton 27-24; Temple Newsam 27-22; Leeds 30-17.

Division 3 – Headingley 6, Wetherby 0; Scarcroft 2, Low Laithes 4; Woolley Park 3, Sand Moor 3.