Yorkshire golf: White Rose Boys' line-up too good for Northern Federation

Yorkshire Boys team pictured ahead of their defeat of a Northern Federation team at Catterick GC.

The Yorkshire line-up consisted of four players from each of three categories - Under-16s, Under-15s and Under-14s.

The Northern Federation team drew players from Northumberland, Durham, Cumbria and Southern Scotland.

Two of the lads representing the latter region were fresh from competing in the Scottish Boys' Championship.

Harrogate GC's Jack Ward plays a tee shot in his match with Kendal GC's Ryan Whitehead.

After a sunny start, the players found themselves having to contend with a cold wind and showers until the sun reappeared around 4pm and the wind died down.

In the morning foursomes, Yorkshire got off to a great start after five holes with two matches being all square while they were up in four.

However, fortunes fluctuated and at halfway the match was level with each side up in three of the six matches.

Charlie Daughtrey (Rotherham GC) and Michael Hay (Hunley Hall GC) were enjoying a real tussle with no more than one hole in it at any time in their contest.

A good second shot from Hay into the last green set up a birdie chance for Daughtrey to win the hole, which he converted to take the match one up.

In the final match, two of Yorkshire's youngest players, Ewan Bromley (Wakefield GC) and Jack Ward (Harrogate GC) belied their ages by winning their match 7&6, having played to level par, and Yorkshire finished the morning session leading 4–2.

Daughtrey led the team out in the afternoon singles and was three up at half way, a lead which he converted into a convincing 5&4 win.

Tom Osborne had an excellent level-par round, which included three birdies, and won 5&3.

Another accomplished performance came from Dan Clark-Coates (Otley GC), who matched Daughtrey's 7&6 winning margin with an under-par round.

In the final match Ward faced Ryan Whitehead (Kendal GC), at 12 the youngest player involved.

Whitehead played extremely well with Ward only two up after 10, but fatigue appeared to takes its toll in the back nine and Ward won 5&3.

The singles matches finished 9-3 in Yorkshire's favour.

Phil Woodcock, chairman of the Yorkshire Boys, commenting on a second win in a week - his side had earlier beaten Derbyshire - said: "Again I am delighted with the boys' performance, with many of them earning their county colours for the first time.

"They played extremely well and conducted themselves in a very professional manner.

"My thanks also go to Matty Raybould, the Boys' captain, who attended to give his support and encouragement to the younger boys, which was greatly appreciated by them.”