Yorkshire golf: Wortley's John Royston waits 30 years for ace - then gets two in eight days

The first ace came in a club competition when Royston holed his seven iron tee shot at Wortley's 151-yard par-3 fifth hole.

The second came as bottom-placed Wortley beat league leaders Low Laithes 8-0 in Section D of the Lawrence Batley Seniors League.

"The second was a wedge shot on the ninth hole at Wortley," said Royston. "The reason it was the same ball is a fluke really.

"I had put the original hole-in-one ball away in a pocket of my golf bag but then, inadvertently, I had taken it back out to use as a provisional in a later game.

"Come the match with Low Laithes I was using it, because I like that type of ball, as my ball for the round and in it went again. I think it is a ball with special powers. It is a Srixon Soft Feel.

"I only propose using it on par-3s in future - just in case."

Royston, who had netted four previous aces in his golfing career but none for 30 years, fulfilled the custom of buying drinks in the clubhouse not once but twice.

John Holmes, Royston's playing partner in the Lawrence Batley match, said: "Our Low Laithes opponents had three birdie twos in the round - but they halved one hole, won one, and lost one when John had his hole-in-one at the ninth.

"He was last to play and we had all gone close leaving potential birdies. John went even closer and holed out. The pin was in a tough position at the back of the green so you had to take on the bunker to get close."

Holmes and Royston seemed certain to complement the latter's ace with victory in their match playing the 16th two up, but Low Laithes' Stan Jagger holed a putt from the back of the 16th for a two to put them one down. However, at the 17th a par four from Holmes gave the Wortley pair the win.

Wortley's last duo were four down at the turn, but turned the match completely around to win 3&2 and complete the club's clean sweep over the erstwhile leaders.

Elsewhere in the section, Huddersfield moved ominously up the table with an 8-0 home win over South Leeds while Blackley were their usual efficient selves with a 7-1 home win over Queensbury to take top spot. The remaining fixture was a 4-4 draw between Lightcliffe and Bradley Hall.

Woodsome Hall’s first defeat of the season in Section A, 6-2 at Marsden, and Crosland Heath’s comprehensive 8-0 home win against West Bradford leaves them locked at the top of the table.

Another visit to the Calder Valley did no favours to the Section B leaders Crow Nest Park, who lost 6-2 Hebden Bridge, but other results meant they remained top of the section.

They were particularly grateful to Todmorden, who kept up their improved home form with a 7-1 victory over Elland.

West End were pleased to end their run of draws with a 6-2 home win over Outlane.

In Section C, Werneth’s home match with Meltham had to be terminated early with the home team winning 5-3 by virtue of victory in the only completed fourball.

Hanging Heaton kept up the pace with a 6-2 home victory over Saddleworth. There were also home wins also for Oldham, 7-1 over Dewsbury & District, and Bradley Park, 6-2 against Ryburn.