Yorkshire Team Championship returns to Sheffield club after 14-year gap
FORMAT: 3-man team 36-hole stroke play
Hallowes members were again celebrating last night as the Sheffield club won the Yorkshire Team Championship at Hallamshire for the first time since 2008.
On a day when a stiff breeze and some brutal pins made scoring incredibly tough, the three-man team of George Ash, Luke Turner and Freddie Parlby came through in excellent fashion. They overturned a six-shot half-time deficit to win by six from 2021 champions Hornsea, who beat them to the title last year.
The club has basked in the considerable achievements of World No 7 Sam Bairstow in recent months and yesterday three of their other young talents came to the fore, led by 20-year-old Ash, who carded a pair of 74s.
And last year’s Duncan Putter Open champion was pleased to “pay something back” to all the Hallowes members who have helped their young stars in recent years.
“As a club the member are very supportive,” said Ash, who caddied for Bairstow at The Open and during his run to the final of the Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham.
“Everywhere we play we get lots of support. Last week there was a county game here (against Durham) and there were 40-50 members following us around.
“And it would mean so much to them if we could win the English final too.”
Because of American college commitments, Turner and Parlby will not be available for the national final at Lilley Brook in Gloucestershire in September (17-18th) but Ash was hopeful that Bairstow might be available.
“It is sad that Luke and Freddie aren’t available but we do have this player called Sam,” joked Ash.
“At the moment we’re not sure if he can play but as a club we are very lucky. We have 10 players of plus one or better so will have a strong team.”
Hallowes last county-winning side, led by Bill Drew, went on to win the English final also before just missing out on the European showpiece in Turkey.
And Drew was at Hallamshire yesterday to watch his club-mates rise to the occasion so admirably.
Ash added: “Hallamshire is not the easiest course anyway but some of the pins were virtually unplayable. I think they enjoying making the course tough.
“But I said to the lads that the conditions were going to probably help us. The key was not to make silly mistakes. That said at halfway I thought we were going to be a million miles away.”
After the morning round, Hallowes were cumulatively 22 over par as their South Yorkshire rivals Rotherham gained the upper hand with Yorkshire county regular Charlie Daughtrey (76), Yorkshire Boys squad member Jack Whaley (76) and Brandon Perry (77) combining to lead by three from Hornsea and six from Abbeydale and Hornsea.
And it wasn’t looking good for the Hallowes trio as 18-year-old Parlby, who is the grandson of legendary coach Pete Cowen, started his second round triple bogey, bogey, bogey while Ash also got off to a bad start.
But both players responded superbly. Parlby fought back to record a one-over 72, the second lowest round in the afternoon behind Patrick Young’s remarkable two -under effort for Northcliffe.
Meanwhile Ash eagled the last to finish on three over and cumulatively the Hallowes trio were 11 shots better after lunch despite the greens firming up.