DE Ingham Memorial Trophy represents third win of season for Penwortham ace
The three-way battle for the golfnews24.co.uk Northern Order of Merit intensified at Rossendale yesterday as early-season leader Chris Parkinson went back to the top thanks to victory in the DE Ingham Memorial Trophy.
FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play
The Penwortham player led all season until England international Jack Brooks (The Mere) went top two weeks ago by virtue of his success in the Birkdale Goblet.
However Parkinson’s three-shot win last night – his third in the Northern Order of Merit this year – sees him regain pole position while Ormskirk’s Andrew Haswell continues to make a late-season charge. The 2021 Lancashire Boys champion finished second at Rossendale, has collected 90 points in the last four events and is now just 28 points off the lead.
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With five events left, including today’s competition at The Mere, all three have a great opportunity to finish top. The 29th and final round takes pace at Bury on September 18th (The Harry Vardon Trophy).
Parkinson believes the glut of Northern Order of Merit events in August has seen the top three inspire each other to perform strongly.
“There has been a lot of points flying around recently and it feels like we’re all pushing each other on,” said the 33-year-old.
Parkinson didn’t believe he had done enough in the second round to overhaul Lancashire county player Matthew Lever, who won on his previous Northern Order of Merit appearance at Hesketh back in May.
The Aussie-based player, who won the Henriques Trophy by three shots, looked set for another victory after opening with a fine 67.
That put him one ahead of Parkinson while Haswell was way down after an opening 74 (+2).
However Lever struggled after lunch but the soon-to-be-champion was obvlious to his struggles and, after sticking his approach to six inches on 15, firmly believed he needed another birdie in the final two holes to give himself a chance.
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Parkinson added: “I was trying to get to seven under. There was no wind and although I had never played the course, I can’t believe you could play it in easier conditions.
“After 15 I thought I had a good chance of getting one more but ended up bogeying 17 so it was relief to discover five under was enough.”
The Penwortham player had to wait an hour to discover his fate, Haswell moving up to second thanks to the best round of the afternoon (68).
The Ormskirk player has now finished second, first, first and second in his last four Northern Order of Merit events but, alongside Parkinson, was not due to play at The Mere.