Max Berrisford lifted the Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs’ Amateur Championship trophy for the first time with a two-shot victory at Cleveland Golf Club.
Max – runner-up in the event in 2020 and 2023 – led the elite field from across the county with rounds of 70, 71, 69 and 66 for a 12 under-par total and a two-shot win over Oliver Caton (Crosland Heath) and Habib Khan (Huddersfield).
“It’s an amazing feeling to be Yorkshire Amateur champion,” said 25-year-old Max, who returned home from Florida this summer having spent 18 months caddying and training to become a pilot. “I’ve had some close calls in this one, so to get my name on the trophy alongside the greats of Yorkshire golf is a good feeling.
“I’d not played an event until June so I wasn’t sure how things would go. I had a good score at the English Amateur [shooting 64 at Wallasey, following up a 72 at Hoylake to qualify for the matchplay in ninth place] and I’ve played nicely since, but this is my big result of the summer.”
Having got into position after three rounds, Max shot his lowest round of the week on the afternoon of the final day – a six under-par 66.
“I like links golf and while it wasn’t too windy at Cleveland, I really enjoyed the challenge of the course all week,” added Max, who started his final round with a par three at the first before making an eagle three at the second.
“That eagle just settled me and got things going, and meant I didn’t need to chase too hard.
“Now I’m a bit older, I don’t get nervous like I used to. It was good to chase the guys in front of me all day too, I knew I had to go out and get it and didn’t have a lead to lose. I enjoyed every bit of the last round, playing alongside Oli Caton and just getting on with shooting a score.
“I knew roughly where I was, but I didn’t know I had the lead until I was walking down the 18th fairway. I’d hit a great tee shot and got a look at the flag, which is pretty rare, then hit a solid six-iron into the heart of the green. I didn’t need to do anything too special from there and it was a great feeling to get the job done so calmly.”
Meanwhile, Ilkley-based Harry Richmond picked up the trophy for the leading player under the age of 18 with a four over-par total after four rounds over the Teesside links.
Halifax-Huddersfield won the Inter District Plate with the district’s leading two players in each of the first two rounds – Habib Khan (69) and Joshua Mcaspurn (70) on Tuesday and Habib (68) and Joel Rushworth (68) on Wednesday – combining for a 13 under-par total in the 36-hole competition.
Following his win, Max will represent Yorkshire in the Men’s County Champion of Champions event at Woodhall Spa on September 14.
The leading 16 players – without Max, who will return to Florida in mid-September to continue his training as a pilot – will compete in the Yorkshire Match Play Championship at Crosland Heath on September 20-21.
For the full results, click here.
