Nick McCarthy set a new mark for the Yorkshire Order of Merit, becoming the first to win events on successive days with victories in the Hawksworth Trophy and Cleveland Salver.
Reigning Merit champion Adam Best claimed back-to-back wins last season in the Cleveland Salver and York Rose Bowl but they were a week apart.
Moortown 20-year-old Nick matched his father David, the 1984 Leeds Open champion, in winning the Hawkswo
rth and Cleveland titles – his dad's double came in separate years.
County squad member Nick tied on 138 with Rotherham's Sam Haywood at Bradford, taking the title with a birdie at the first extra hole, then stormed in by five shots from defending champion and home club man Best at Cleveland, firing 67 in the first round and adding a stunning 65, a record for the altered course, the only links in Yorkshire.
After his record 12 under par day – 13 birdies and an eagle against three bogies – which could see his plus two handicap improve, Nick said: "I was really pleased with my iron shot – I stuck lots close to the pin, and in the second round my putting really got going."
He has decided against taking up offers of golf scholarships from Louisiana and Georgia and he has a chance of a sports marketing and PR opening at Leeds Met as he will take time out this year to see where he golf takes him. "I'll see how things are come August," he said.
His season's schedule will take in the major national and county championships as well as seeking to qualify for the Open.
At Bradford he trailed Haywood and his brother Duncan by a shot after carding 70 in the first round then a 68 saw him edge Haywood in the play-off while Duncan fell back with a 75.
Hawksworth Trophy leading scores: 138 - N McCarthy (Moortown) 70 69; S Haywood (Rotherham) 69 69. 140 - M Evans (Rotherham) 71 69. 144 - T Usher (Baildon) 72 72; D McCarthy (Pannal) 69 75.145 - S Jewell (Bradford) 73 72; D Appleyard (South Leeds) 72 73; S Bell (Baildon) 72 73; A Sagar (Keighley) 70 75. 146 - R Chilton (Pike Hills) 73 73.
Cleveland Salver leading scores: 132 - N McCarthy (Moortown) 67 65. 137 - A Best (Cleveland) 68 69. 139 - M Curry (Brancepeth Castle) 72 67.142 - G McLure (Whickham) 69 73. 143 - L Searle (Romanby) 71 72. 144 - P Thomas (West Bradford) 73 71. 145 - R Aisbitt (Brancepeth Castle) 75 70; J Holmes (Middlesbrough) 74 71; R Law (Low Laithes) 74 71; J Lawrence (Moor Allerton) 73 72; A Lount (Pike Hills) 72 73.
MARCUS ARMITAGE, the Leeds Amateur champion from Howley Hall who won the Auchterlonie Spoon, the opening Merit event, shot 70 71 for fourth place in the S&A Bowl on the Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit.
The full article contains 484 words and appears in EP Leeds First & County newspaper.
