The golfnews24 Northern Order of Merit has once again attracted some stellar fields and thrown up some marvellous stories. But after 29 rounds England international Jack Brooks once again had just enough to fish top of the pile. golfnews24 managing editor MARK FLANAGAN reflects on a season which developed into a fascinating three-way battle
Jack Brooks won his second successive golfnews24 Northern Order of Merit thanks to a third-placed finish in the Harry Vardon Trophy last night.
The Lancashire-based player had a seven-point lead going into the final round after Andrew Haswell maintained his late surge with a four-shot victory at Bolton Old Links on Saturday.
And the teenager maintained that pressure in the first round at Bury yesterday. The Ormskirk player was two ahead going into the second round but Brooks held firm, registering a three-under-par 67 to overtake his rival on the day and in the end his overall winning margin would be 13 points.
In the final round of the Northern Order of Merit, Brooks earned 20 points after finishing third on countback behind Rochdale’s Alex Walker and home winner Ciaran Doherty (Bury) while Haswell’s sixth placed finish earned him 10 points.
Long-time leader Christopher Parkinson (Penwortham) went into the 29th and final round with a slim hope of getting back on top but he needed a lot of help from the top two which was not forthcoming.
Parkinson, who initially went top thanks to a third-placed finish at Delemere Forest in April, would finish 16th at Bury but he has had a marvellous season, picking up three titles.
He went 52 points clear with his second victory of the year at Caldy (round 7) – he had not won any Northern Order of Merit events until this year – and after a second place in the Acorn Trophy at Accrington (round 11) was 69 points ahead of the rest (see below).
At this point Brooks was still on 25 points – he won the season opener at West Lancashire – but started to close the gap with a fifth at Pleasington and then won the the Royton Sword (round 16) to get within 51 points of the Parkinson.
The England international then came second at Nelson (round 18) and at this point Haswell was down in joint 28th on 24 points.
However as Brooks won the Childwall Trophy (round 19) to get within six points of the leader, Haswell started his charge thanks to a third placed finish.
The reigning champion went to the summit thanks to victory in the Birkdale Goblet (round 21) – Haswell finished second (see below) – and then the Ormskirk player won at Blackburn to jump to third.
Parkinson finished second and Brooks fourth and then Haswell broke the course record at Eaton in securing back-to-back victories before the Penwortham star responded brilliantly at the next event (round 24) by winning at Rossendale. Haswell was the runner-up and then came fifth in the Ashton Trophy to get within four points of Brooks and 17 of Parkinson.
However the champion hit back with a second place at Wilpshire in round 27 to get to open up a seven-point lead before this weekend’s dramatic events concluded another excellent Northern Order of Merit season.