Fitzpatrick edged out in English Amateur final

The 18-year-old Hallamshire Golf Club member, who performed so admirably at Muirfield two weeks ago to finish as leading amateur in the Open, continued his good form by battling to the English final at Frilford Heath.

But Callum Shinkwin had too much for Fitzpatrick on the day, and won 4&3 in the 36-hole final.

Fitzpatrick had stormed his way into the final with some large wins but he took defeat on the chin.

“Worse things happens,” he said. “I didn’t play as well today as in previous rounds and I didn’t putt as well. The putter was cold.

“The defeat is hard to take but I’ve had a fantastic week. I didn’t get any momentum going today. If I could have done it might have been different. But I’m not taking anything away from Callum. He played better.”

Yorkshire defeated Cumbria 11-7 at The Oaks on Saturday to make it three wins from four in the Northern Counties Group.

The partnership of Daniel Wasteney and Joe Dean (Lindrick) plus Nick Marsh (Huddersfield) and Will Whiteoak (Shipley) earned points in the morning foursomes.

Jonathan Thomson (Lindrick) and James Walker (The Oaks) as well as James Harrison (Rotherham) and his partner Craig Smith (Pike Hills) earned half points as the two sides shared the spoils in the opening section of the match.

But Yorkshire ran away with it in the afternoon singles, losing only two of 12 matches. Marsh added his second point while Whiteoak and Wasteney halved their matches.

There were also wins for Thomson, Harrison, Smith, the Moor Allerton duo of Joe Heraty and Ben Sardo, plus Martin Brown (Pike Hills) and Daniel Brown (Bedale). Yorkshire finish against Cheshire at Lindrick on August 31.