Yorkshire golf: Fergus Barron leaves it late to edge out Oliver Tasker in Hornsea Gutty

The Yorkshire Order of Merit event is now in its 10th year and reached an exciting climax at Hornsea GC as Barron denied first-round leader Oliver Tasker, of Cleckehaton GC.

Barron won thanks to a better second round, putting together scores of 76 71 while Tasker shot 70 77.

Tasker’s two-under-par opening circuit had included five birdies and put him three clear of home player Rees Brown.

Afternoon scores improved a little, but with a 77 Tasker still looked likely to lift the title.

However, Barron, playing in one of the final groups, laid his hands on both the trophy and a prize worth £225.

His first round had seen him drop two shots on both his outward and inward nines.

In the afternoon, though, he carded three birdies and just two bogeys, one of the former being the crucial three at the 410-yard par-4 last.

Tasker was left to rue an ugly double bogey seven at the 504-yard par-5 eighth that played its part in an outward 41 in the second round.

Hornsea’s Nathan Wright won best net overall with gross rounds of 81 77, Heworth GCs Will Marshall recorded the best morning round, a 76, and Robert Wardle, of Selby GC, the best in the afternoon, a 73.

After five events, Wath GC’s Nick Poppleton has a 50-point lead at the top of the Order of Merit standings.

Second is Fulford GC’s Craig Smith, winner of the York Rose Bowl, who is 10 points clear of Wheatley GC’s Kealan Lowe.

The next event is the Wike Ridge Classic on may 15.