Yorkshire defeat old rivals en-route to Belfry final

Yorkshire’s team of champions were firing on all cylinders as they put the competition to the sword and claimed a place in the SkyCaddie PGA England & Wales Inter-County Championship final at the Belfry.

Adrian Ambler (Low Laithes), Gareth Davies (Abbeydale) and Alex Belt (Bridlington) will progress to the championship final after a tense, closely-fought regional qualifier at Bolton Golf Club.

The trio, buoyed by an eagle at the first hole, confidently rose to the challenge of a modern-day War of the Roses to defeat old rivals Lancashire by one shot.

Their victory came despite the imperious form of Mossock Hall's David Shacklady who scored the lowest round of the day, a four-under-par 66, and was a constant thorn in Yorkshire team’s side.

The trio will now make the journey south for the £10,000 final over the Belfry’s PGA National Course on October 14-15.

For Belt and Davies the final offers a shot at securing a second piece of silverware this year.

Belt claimed the PGA England and Wales (North) Order of Merit in early September while Davies took victory in the Powerade PGA Assistants’ Championship following a dramatic play-off at Coventry Golf Club in June.

Wakefield-based Ambler, The PGA in Yorkshire’s vice chairman and former PGA (North) number one, said they will be hungry for more.

“It’s not very often you get to represent your county playing golf, so you always feel that you want to do well when the opportunity comes along,” he explained.

“I’m a proud Yorkshireman, so to have the opportunity to play on behalf of the county over a course such as the Belfry is going to be a real honour.

“I’m lucky to be playing alongside two top players in Alex and Gareth, and I’m sure we’ll stand every chance of coming away with something.”

Ambler admitted his surprise at the fact his round, a two-under-par 68, proved decisive in the outcome of the event.

The tournament format sees the team’s highest score discarded, with the remaining two added together to produce a final total.

“I just thought I was going as a ceremonial captain,” Ambler joked.

“Alex and Gareth are such good players that I never expected my score to count, so I’m pleased that I managed to come in with a good score.

“But it proves the strength of our team that Alex came in with our highest score, and he still finished on level-par.

“That bodes well for the final and make no mistake about it, we’re going to the Belfry to try to win.”