Jack Brooks made history on Sunday as he became the first non Yorkshire-based player to win the prestigious Yorkshire Order of Merit.
FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play
The final event at Fulford developed into a tense battle between the England international and county champion Richard Wheatley, who started the day 33 points behind Brooks.
With the two main title challengers in the same group, the Bradford stalwart looked set to pounce as he led by five shots with 14 holes to go in the Mackenzie Trophy. With double points available in the finale, Wheatley’s chances of finising far enough ahead were increased.
However Brooks birdied six, eight and nine around the famous York venue and in the end finished just one place behind his playing partner which meant he won it by 13 points, the narrowest margin of victory for 16 years – Garforth’s Grant Jackson did it by nine in 2006.
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For Brooks, who is leading the golfnew24.co.uk Northern Order of Merit, going into the final round of matches this weekend – Bolton Old Links (September 18th) and Bury (19th) – there was a huge relief at hanging on. The 18-year-old-old event has been open to non White Rose-based amateur golfers since 2017.
He said: “That run at the end of the front nine was crucial.
“I wasn’t playing my best stuff and neither of us played particularly well but it is a special moment to make a bit of history and I have really taking on the best in Yorkshire. Some of the events, at the likes of Lindrick, are so well organised.”
Moortown’s Oliver Cage was the event winner and his 400-point haul saw him jump into the top 10 in the overall standings.
However Wheatley gained a narrow advantage at halfway as he led by two thanks to an opening 71.
As his lead opened up, the Lancashie county stalwart needed something special and he certainly managed it. With nine holes to go the duo were level pegging.
Brooks even managed to overcome the disappointment of finding his tee shot in a gorse bush behind the par three tenth green. had the ball been lost he would have been faced with a tap-in bogey after almost holing his tee shot. However, after taking a drop, he did manage to get his four but only after holing out from 10 feet although it was once again advantage Wheatley.
However Brooks again fought back before the Yorkshireman birdied 16 to nudge back ahead. Both then bogeyed 17 and parred the last which left Wheatley in seventh on his own (200 points) and Brooks a further place back (180).