Early bird Nick McCarthy can’t be caught by rest of 2020protour field

The European Challenge Tour player posted a four-under par round of 67 early in the day and watched as more than 100 players failed to go lower in the wind and rain.

Indeed, no one came close, with Howley Hall professional Ben Hutchinson, Harrogate’s John Parry – a former winner on the European Tour – and Richard Law of Bradley Park all posting a one-under-par 70.

The fact only four players scored under the par of 71 demonstrates how difficult the conditions were to play in as the 2020protour enjoyed a successful fifth event of its inaugural year. Moortown’s McCarthy had an eventful start to his round, dropping three shots and recording three birdies in his first six holes before steadying the ship with a run of pars to the 10th.

He birdied the 11th and then holed his second shot on the 
375-yard par-four 12th before adding another birdie on the par-five 16th.

McCarthy was third on the 2020protour Order of Merit before play but could find himself at the top of the rankings after his first win.

The man at the top, Nick Poppleton of Wath, finished in a tie for fifth with a level-par round.

Marcus Armitage, winner last time out at Oulton Hall and a home favourite as a member at Howley Hall, posted a 73 for a top-12 finish. That score was matched by Brogan Townend, of Pleasington in Lancashire, the highest-placed of the 15 female entrants, who play the course 11 per shorter than then men.

Amateur Rosie Belsham (Whitley Bay) put up a strong showing just a shot further back after signing for a 74.

Welshman Jacob Davies was the highest amateur with a 71, while Charlotte Austwick shot an 81 on her return and tournament co-organiser Chris Hanson shot 72 in the last group out.

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