Big turn-out for Yorkshire Open

Alex Belt, Snainton Golf Centre.

It’s all go for golf in Yorkshire which is enjoying an upsurge in interests this season. County secretary Aran Wainwright reports that a record 80 players, almost double last year’s total, will compete in the 36-hole Yorkshire Open, which caters for professionals and low handicapped amateurs, at Howley Hall, on Thursday.

“Points will count for the respective orders of merit,” he explained. “We have 25 players whose handicaps range from plus four to two. There’s a very strong professional field which includes Alex Belt, who’s just received his Chinese Tour card, and Leeds Cup winner Michael Ramsden.”

Amateur Ben Hutchinson, who plays at Howley Hall off plus four, won the title last year when he beat Wainwright who has excluded himself from playing on this occasion because he’s running the event.

“We are sponsored again by Needless Inn,” he reports. “We also have 20 teams in a pro-am on the eve of the main competition. Social media has played a big role in publicising the event but I also feel Yorkshire golf is on the up.

“All our pro-ams and players’ tour events have increased in numbers.”