Samuel storms through the field to win a fifth Amateur
Twenty years after his first win, Jon Samuel battled the elements and a tough Ganton layout to take a one shot victory in the 2024 East Riding Union of Golf Clubs Amateur Championship.
Things were tight at lunchtime with ten players within five shots of Ewan Mackenzie who posted a fantastic level par 71 in the first round.
The ex Cottingham Parks youngster, who now plays out of Ganton, was out in 34 strokes wih birdies at the 4th and 7th. A mid round / mid storm wobble, with back to back 6s at 12 and 13, were soon put behind him, as he played the tough last five holes in one under to get back to level at lunch.
The chasing pack all left a few out there as the torrential rain came through around 12.15pm, with a real mixture of youth and experience queuing up to improve on their morning rounds and catch the leader.
Hull's Ben Thornham finished with three bogies, but was Ewan's nearest challenger with 73. Conversely Luke Townhill birdied two of the last three holes to sit on 74, one ahead of Ganton's Tom Brown and four time winner Samuel. Jamie Gregory, Jacob Hodgson and Leigh Gawley were a shot further back on 76.
All to play for as the storm moved through to leave bright sunshine, but gale force winds for round two.
Scarborough North Cliff's Tom Duck improved by ten shots in the afternoon to shoot the day's only sub par round of 70. In the end, his bogey - bogey finish left him one short of a play-off. Hessle's Luke Thornton had four birdies in his 71, but a poor morning had left him too much ground to make up.
Hull's Jacob Hodgson added a 74 to match Duck's 150 (+8) total, whilst Hessle's Warren Burns dropped three shots over the tough last four to finish with 151 (+9). Ewan Mackenzie carded a 7 and an 8 over his front nine and looked to have surrendered his chance of winning, but he steadied the ship with a great run of holes after the turn to stand at +6 for the day with three holes to play. Two bogeys, then a lost ball off the tee at 18 ended his challenge.
That left all eyes on the final group of Ryan Gray from Driffield and Jon Samuel. Despite bogeys at 16 and 17, Jon reached the apron at the last in two and needed to get up and down for victory. An approach putt left Jon an uphill four footer for the title which he cooly converted (photo below).
Jon's fifth victory in this event takes him clear of Mike Kelley with four (69-90) and leaves only George Ash with seven titles (51-61) and Alan Wright who won eight from 1983-2008 ahead of him on the all time roll of honour who have lifted the H.W. Collins Trophy.
Warren Burns picked up the Rob McLeish Trophy for the best junior performance with his 151 and also took home the nett prize with his 143 - winning on countback from Ganton's Ben Staveley and Ben Thornham.
As always, a very long day for the organisers who arrived at 7am. Dave Greenwood organised the whole event superbly, ably helped on the desk all day by Ian Jeffrey and ERUGC Secretary John Illingworth who began the day as starter, before regular first tee official Andy Pittaway arrived for the bulk of the day.
ERUGC President Jonty Hall watched all afternoon and presented the prizes in the wonderful Ganton clubhouse. Thank you to all their staff, on and off the course, who made the event such a special day.
The Amateur Championship for the H.W. Collins Trophy
| Player | Club | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Total |
| Jon Samuel | Hull | 75 | 74 | 149 |
| Tom Duck | SNC | 80 | 70 | 150 |
| Jacob Hodgson | Hull | 76 | 74 | 150 |
| Warren Burns | Hessle | 77 | 74 | 151 |
| Jamie Gregory | Ganton | 76 | 75 | 151 |
| Ben Thonham | Hull | 73 | 80 | 153 |
| Ewan Mackenzie | Ganton | 71 | 82 | 153 |
The Best Junior in the Amateur Championship for the Rob McLeish Trophy
| Player | Club | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Total |
| Warren Burns | Hessle | 77 | 74 | 151 |
| Ewan Mackenzie | Ganton | 71 | 82 | 153 |
Best nett prize
| Player | Club | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Total |
| Warren Burns | Hessle | 73 | 70 | 143 |
| Ben Staveley | Ganton | 72 | 71 | 143 |
| Ben Thornham | Hull | 68 | 75 | 143 |