Twelve months on from winning his third ERUGC Open title, Filey’s Fraser Kelley (above left) produced two excellent sub par rounds at Scarborough North Cliff to claim his fourth Needler Trophy. He now sits alongside father Mike on the Union’s roll of honour who also won this event four times between 1969 and 1981.

A sparkling 67 in round one, which included six birdies and only one dropped shot at the short 15th, had the defending champion out in front by 3 shots at lunch from the in form Amateur Champion Matty Raybould from Hornsea. Home player Paul Harper was a shot further back with his 71, whilst Tom Duck (SNC) and Leigh Gawley (Hornsea) lurked at level par.

The afternoon round did not start very well for the leader, who racked up four putts at the long second to drop two shots. Amazingly, Fraser proceded to put that behind him and go bogey free for the remaining 16 holes to card a 71 for an unassailable total of 138 (6 under par).

Matty (pictured below) had a mixed afternoon and his double bogey at the 12th effectively cost him a late run at the title. He settled for third place with his 144 total.

Harper, Duck and Gawley fell away with 79s and 80 respectively, but the biggest move came from Bridlington’s Olly Beckett who had seven birdies in his afternoon 68 to finish runner up, just three shots behind Fraser.

Blake Ellison (pro) put together two solid rounds to finish 4th, three ahead of a log jam of players on 144 – Jack Clark (Ganstead), Warren Burns (Hessle) and Rees Brown (Hornsea).

Olly Beckett (top photo right) duly picked up the George Ash Salver for the leading amateur. Both trophies were presented by ERUGC President Dave Greenwood (centre).

Ross Giblin of Hessle took the best nett prize for his 144 total.

Big thanks to Ian Jeffrey for organising the event and manning the desk all day with ERUGC Secretary John Illingworth. Another 14 hour day ticked off for these two tireless Union ambassadors. 

A big thanks to host club Scarborough North Cliff for their warm welcome, excellent hospitality and quality of the course. 

Results

* (not in main prizes)

Full results on Golf Genius as always.

Jonathan Clark
ERUGC Press Secretary

Hessle suits Kelley’s eye – Fraser wins his third ERUGC Open

In one of the most thrilling finishes in the history of the East Riding Open Championship, Fraser Kelley rolled back the years to record his third win to take the Needler Trophy at an immaculate Hessle Golf Club.

The morning scores showed how tough Hessle was going to be for the field of amateurs and professionals, with only one player breaking the par of 72. 

Hull’s Ben Rozenbroek led the way at lunchtime following his 71, putting him one ahead of ER Men’s Team Manager Andy Lockwood on his home course. Two further back was Burstwick’s Martin Fox, with Scarborough North Cliff’s Paul Harper on 75. Others just about in touch were 2003 winner Blake Ellison, one of the pre event favourites Aaron Brettell and Charles Wright – all on 76. No sign of Fraser – stuck in a large log jam on 77.

Ben’s one under card started with an incredible three 3s – a birdie at the 1st, a solid par at the tough second and an eagle at the long 3rd. Further birdies at 7 and 14 offset the bogies at 5 and 10, but dropped shots at 16 and 17 cut what might have been a more comanding lead at the halfway stage.

The afternoon round began with all eyes on the two leaders, Rozenbroek and Lockwood. Would either of them falter to let others into the frame?

Andy couldn’t get his putter going and rued an early double bogey at the tough 4th and dropped further shots at 8, 12 and 17 to fall out of contention with a 77. Ben started slowly, but took advantage of the par 5s to hold his round together. A three putt from the front of the 15th green put him one over for the day and he parred in for a total of 145 to look a likely winner as Fox and Harper couldn’t improve on their morning scores.

Hessle member Aaron Brettell had other ideas, coming from five shots back to shoot an impressive bogey free 69 to match Rozenbroek’s two round total of 145. It could have been one better after a sublime chip at the last left him a slippy three foot putt for birdie. Many watching behind the home hole believed this was for the title, but it agonisingly slipped by and the talk of a play-off had begun.

Of the morning 77s, Ganton’s Harry Mukerjea fell away with an 81, but had the consolation of winning the nett prize with his 68-72 effort. Tom Duck and Matty Raybould impreoved on their morning scores, but had too much ground to make up. That left one group coming down the 18th which included previous winners Ellison and Kelley.

Blake could only match his morning 76, whilst Kelley made up some ground going out in a bogey free 34. Another birdie at 11 got him to two over for the day, but a shot at the title seemed to have gone after a bogey at 13. A birdie at 16 from 20 feet, followed by a six footer for a three at 17 set up the thrilling finish to a magnificent day under the sun at Raywell. Fraser found the 18th in two and two putted for a third birdie on the spin to win by one, 25 years after first lifting the Needler Trophy. Having backed that up with another win in 2000, Fraser’s three wins is now only one short of his father Mike who won four between 1969 and 1981. 

Ben Rozenbroek (middle) and Aaron Brettell (right) shared the George Ash Salver for the leading amateur. Both trophies were presented by ERUGC President Jonty Hall (left).

Big thanks to Dave Greenwood for organising the event and to John Illingworth and Ian Jeffrey for covering the desk all day. Andy Pittaway and past President Edward Clark did a great job as starters for the day and players and officials alike praised Hessle Golf Club for their warm welcome, excellent hospitality and quality of the course. 

* (not in main prizes)

Full results on howdidido as always.

Jonathan Clark

ERUGC Junior League Secretary

Overall Results

Leading Professionals

Leading single round score 

Hornsea’s home hero Steve Uzzell finally added the ERUGC Open Championship to his impressive golfing CV, having only previously won the George Ash Salver for leading amateur at this event in 2021. The Needler Trophy and George Ash Salver were presented by East Riding President Mike Dawson just as the first rain of the day finally arrived. 

Although the 64 participants stayed dry at an immaculate Hornsea, it was the strong wind and slick greens which presented pros and amateurs alike with a stiff test over the 36 holes. Ball striking and controlling your trajectory was going to be key and so it proved as the cream of East Riding golf rose to the top.

Uzzell was the player to break par in round one. Uzzell had 6 birdies in his impressive 71 which left him three strokes clear at lunch from defending champion Paul Lockwood and Driffield’s Jamie Greveson. A shot further back were Cave Castle Assistant Pro Dan Swales, Ganton’s Jack Northgraves and the evergreen Mark Lamb from Ganstead. Other members of the East Riding senior squad were lurking with decent scores in the conditions, but the chances of anyone going really low to get in the mix after lunch looked remote.

Hornsea’s Jack Maxey had other ideas. Despite a disappointing 82 in round one, Jack roared around the Rolston Road layout where he is the course record holder and stood on the 18th tee at seven under the card after 7 birdies and 10 pars. A frustrating double bogey at the last left him with a best of the day 67 and shot him up to the runners up spot with 149 – one ahead of Jack Northgraves who carded a second consecutive 75.

Uzzell carded six further birdies in the afternoon and his 68 gave him a two round total of 139 to take both pieces of silverware on offer. He finished ten strokes clear of Yorkshire team-mate Maxey to take the leading amateur award, but the Open trophy was a little tighter.

An impressive afternoon 68 gave Driffield’s Paul Lockwood [pictured below] the professionals prize with 142, four ahead of the fast finishing Dan Swales who closed with three straight birdies.

The nett prize went to Cottingham’s Lee Webster who had two solid rounds of 83 and 82 gross to card a nett 139 on the day.

Full scores on howdidido.com as always.

Big thanks to Dave Greenwood for organising the event, John Illingworth for a 12 hour stint on the desk , ably supported by Sunil Mukerjea. Tom Elder of Hornsea and ERUGC Past President Edward Clark did a great job as starters for the day and players and officials alike praised Hornsea for their warm welcome, excellent hospitality and quality of the course.