Yorkshire grit sees trio on top at The Belfry

Pre-tournament favourites Yorkshire lived up to their billing as they secured the lead on the opening day of the SkyCaddie PGA England & Wales Inter-County Championship.

Over a sodden Brabazon course at The Belfry, the trio posted a one-over-par total of 145, with captain Adrian Ambler (Low Laithes) shooting a level par 72 and North Region No 1 Alex Belt (Bridlington Links) adding a 73 – in the best two scores from three format. Reigning Powerade champion Gareth Davies, the third member of the team, carded a 74.

A shot further back on two-over 146 in the five-team championship that carries a £10,000 prize fund are Essex and Wiltshire.

Ambler (above), North Region No 1 in 2012, admitted he was hoping to play a back seat role to his two 2014 title-winning team mates.

“I was hoping to let the boys get on with it and shoot some low numbers and leave me to just do what I do,” he said.

“As it turns out my score counts but we’ve three strong players. It’s unusual and an interesting format and from a personal point of view I’d like all three to count, but we know it’s two from three and we just go out and do our best.

“Given the format, you’re never out of it because you can come from 10 behind and still win so it’s never a done deal.”

Reflecting on his own performance, he admitted it had been difficult given the wet conditions.

“I was struggling a little bit as I was two over after seven with a couple of three putts. I knocked it stone dead on nine for a birdie to turn in one-over. I played great from then on, hitting it close and was unlucky with one or two putts but delighted to get it back to shoot one-under on the back nine and keep us in the hunt.”

Pick of the scores was Thorpe Hall’s Mark Talbott, who carded a best of the day 70, to help Essex stay in the hunt.

Wiltshire’s Mark Searle (High Post) carded one-under 71 to help their cause, while the only other player under par was Derbyshire captain Ian Walley (Kedleston Park), who also had a 71.

The tournament concludes tomorrow.