Ace Brown carries hopes of third win

MASHAM’S Dan Brown had a hole in one as he reached the quarter-finals of the English men’s amateur championship at Ganton where he will be Yorkshire’s sole standard bearer.

Former Dutch Junior Open champion Brown eased through to the last 16 with a 5&4 victory against Marlborough’s Ben Amor, which included an ace at the fifth hole.

He followed that victory with a one-hole triumph against Walsall’s Daniel Sutton.

Hull’s Steve Robins turned around a one-hole deficit to beat Billy McKenzie (Rowlands Castle) on the final green of his third-round match.

But Robins was then beaten by one hole by Remedy Oak’s Jack Singh Brar in a failed attempt to exact revenge on behalf of Hallamshire’s Alex Fitzpatrick. England Under-16 international Fitzpatrick had only succumbed to Singh Brar at the second extra hole of their third-round battle.

Yorkshire lost another two players to third-round exits: Malton & Norton’s David Hague was defeated 3&1 by Rowany’s Tom Gandy and Fulford’s James Cass lost 2&1 to Hayling’s Jamie Mist.

The county are hoping to celebrate a third consecutive triumph in the event following Huddersfield’s Nick Marsh winning at Saunton in Devon in 2014 and Lindrick’s Joe Dean triumphing at Alwoodley last August.

In the last eight, Yorkshire county player Brown will face Gandy, who after defeating Yorkshireman Hague put out last year’s runner-up, Lytham Trophy winner Alfie Plant (Sundridge Park).

Cleckheaton’s Olivia Hamilton tied fifth in the English girls’ open amateur stroke play championship at The Nottinghamshire with rounds of 73 74 73 78.

She was six shots adrift of winner Cloe Frankish (Chart Hills), who carded 76 73 70 73.

Lindrick’s Mia Smith placed 12th in the English Under-14 girls’ open championship with scores of 81 75 80.