Hornsea pair a class apart in season opener

THE East Riding Alliance got its 2020-21 season underway at Scarborough South Cliff and it proved to be a happy hunting ground for Hornsea pairing Jack Maxey (+2) and Nathan Wright (6).

They were a class apart, signing for an 11-under-par four ball better ball score of 61, three shots clear of their nearest challenger.

Maxey was in irresistible form over the front nine, opening with three consecutive birdies, then adding two more on the fifth and eighth, both par fives, enabling the pair to turn for home in 31, five under par.

Into the back nine it was Wright’s turn to shine. Making good use of his shot allocation, he contributed nett eagles on holes 11 and 16 and birdies on 13 and 18 that saw the Hornsea duo cover the back nine in a sizzling 30 shots, six-under-par.

The pair even had the luxury of a dropped shot on the challenging 211-yard par three 17th hole.

Nearest challengers were Pike Hills’ Chris Lone and partner Richard Barrass on 64, followed by three pairs from Hull, Hainsworth Park and

Driffield bracketed together in third place a further two shots in arrears.

Not surprisingly, given the Maxey/ Wright score, Hornsea are setting the pace after round one of this season’s Hull Daily Mail Challenge Bowl with 130, three clear of Driffield with Pike Hills third a further shot off the pace.

The South Cliff Alliance saw a first appearance for Cottingham Parks as a member of the Alliance having replaced Springhead Park who unfortunately after a long association had to withdraw through an inability to raise teams.