Yorkshire Seniors champion Mike Kelley won the Northern Counties Seniors title at Fairhaven, but was relieved that the event was reduced to 27 holes when torrential rain ravaged the second round.
The former England captain, from Ganton, covered the front nine in 35 following his first round 75 but then suffered on the home run by not breaking 40, which was discounted when the last nine holes were abandoned.
His 109 total proved enough to
win the championship ahead of Cheshire's former England Seniors champion Roy Smethurst.
Yorkshire finished behind Cheshire and Lancashire in the team section, but the consolation was that they claimed the net team prizes.
Leading scores (best five in each team to count): 579 – Cheshire; 589 – Lancashire; 594 – Yorkshire (M Kelley 74 35, J Oxley 85 40. R Shimwell 82 40, D Slinsgby 86 42, D Thornborrow 80 41, R Wallace 78 39). Leading net score: 564 – Yorkshire.
Yorkshire Seniors, having beaten Derbyshire 9.5-8.5 at Burton upon Trent and Lincolnshire 16.5-1.5 at Moor Allerton, were taking on Durham at Moortown today with Rodney Foster joining fellow Walker Cup international Kelley in the team.
****Top Yorkshire girl Jodi Ewart, the Curtis Cup international, defends the English women's stroke-play championship at The Berkshire on July 22-24.
Ewart, who plays at Catterick, is currently a student at New Mexico University in the US.
Among her challengers in the 72-hole event will be Yorkshire veteran and past champion Emma Brown, from Malton & Norton.
Brown is already a winner at The Berkshire course this season, claiming the Astor Salver, an open 36-hole tournament.
Ends
The full article contains 281 words and appears in EP Leeds First & County newspaper.
