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Victory's so Sweet for Nigel
NIGEL SWEET made it third time lucky in claiming the Yorkshire Amateur title at Pannal, writes John Drake.
The Moortown man overcame another of Yorkshire's most consistent performers in David Appleyard, the 2004 champion from South Leeds, by 4&3 in a close- fought, fascinating clash.
It was made all the more remarkable as both players hold down full-time jobs while many leading amateurs play full-time these days.
Sweet, manager of a Leeds golf shop, bounced back from suffering one of the heaviest defeats the final has witnessed, a 10&8 margin last year at the hands of Richard Law (Low Laithes).
His other appearance in the decider, in 2001, ended by 5&4 in favour of Hull's Richard Finch, now a European Tour winner.
Sweet, who plays right-handed and putts left-handed, had shown himself to be a formidable figure all week.
Fifth of the 32 stroke-play qualifiers, he was never taken beyond the 16th hole in any of his five match-play rounds.
Both Sweet and Appleyard were under par at the halfway stage at which Sweet stood one-up.
Then more birdies and eagles were exchanged before Appleyard, a member of the Leeds University geography department, hit a couple of loose shots down the stretch.
Sweet took advantage, getting up and down from the back of the green for par at the tenth while Appleyard surprisingly three-putted.
Sweet became the first Moortown winner since Paul Carrigill's 1978 victory to highlight his club's centenary.
Meanwhile, Yorkshire's leading England amateur Jodi Ewart staged an ace display alongside the professionals of the LET to tie 10th in the AIB Ladies Irish Open at Portmarnock.
The English champion made her fourth hole-in-one during the second round, sinking a seven-iron shot at the 164-yard third.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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