Bradford Open champion Whiteoak makes it a magnificent seven (From Keighley News)

Bradford Open champion Whiteoak makes it a magnificent seven

10:30am Thursday 19th July 2012 in Sport By Mike Crowther

Will Whiteoak added the Bingley St Ives Salver to his already-bulging trophy cabinet this week after becoming only the fourth player to win both the Bradford Open and Bradford Amateur Strokeplay Championship in the same season.

The Haworth ace continued his amazing run of form by winning the Yorkshire Order of Merit title on his home course Bingley St Ives by two shots with rounds of 69 and 70.

It capped an incredible run of form which has seen him pick up SEVEN trophies in the last two months. His latest triumph on Tuesday came just two days after he won the Bradford Open with a five-shot victory at Shipley following rounds of 72 and 70.

The 18-year-old, who is still a junior, became the first to do the Bradford double since fellow St Ives team-mate Rob Hillas achieved it in 2005 while playing out of Northcliffe.

Only two others have achieved the feat since the 36-hole amateur strokeplay event was introduced in 1978. They are Keighley’s Phil Wood in 1988 and Bradford’s Martin Foster in 1991.

Whiteoak’s double also secured him the Sydney Carr Trophy for the best finish by an amateur at the Open, plus the Jim Wade Trophy for the best combined finish at the two major Bradford events.

This summer has also seen Whiteoak win silverware for the best strokeplay score in the Yorkshire Amateur Championship at Lindrick and he lifted his club’s Scratch Cup.

Bingley St Ives secretary Adrian Weaver said: “Will must be going down in the local record books as having achieved something which has never been done before.

“We’re very proud of him and can’t talk highly enough of his achievements.

“This is his moment in amateur golf and he is making the most of it.”

The former Oakbank School pupil said linking up with Thomas Bjorn’s coach Mike Walker, who is director at the Pete Cowen Academy in Rotherham, during the winter had contributed to his success.

He said: “I changed my coach in the winter to Mike, who works with Lee Westwood’s coach Pete Cowen.

“He is at a different level and has helped me get my game under more control.

“He works with how I swing it and that fills you with confidence.”

His level par two-round score at a windy Shipley saw him finish well clear of the field to win the Open as Baildon’s Ian Martin was second, with host professional Nathan Stead third and former winner Danny Rowley, also from the home club, fourth on a countback.

Whiteoak said: “Winning the Bradford Open means more (than the Bradford Amateur). It has a better field of players and is played on the best courses.”

Champion for the previous two years, James Firth, who was playing with Whiteoak, was back in 12th spot after rounds of 81 and 74.

Bradford Open Championship (at Shipley): 1 Will Whiteoak (Bingley St Ives) 142 (72, 70); 2 Ian Martin (Baildon) 147 (74, 73); 3 Nathan Stead professional 149 (76, 73); 4 D C Rowley (Shipley) 151 (79, 72); 5 Sean Wright professional 151 (76, 75); 6 A G Brown (Bingley St Ives) 153 (76, 77); 7 Andy Fitzpatrick (Keighley) 153 (75, 78); 8 Rob Hillas (Bingley St Ives) 154 (78, 76); 9 Darryl Berry (Bingley St Ives) 154 (77, 77); 10 Ben Mountain (Bradford) 154 (76, 78).

St Ives Salver results: 1 Will Whiteoak (Bingley St Ives) 139 (69, 70), 2 Scott Douglas (Wakefield) 141 (72, 69), 3 Richard Law (Low Laithes) 142 (73, 69), 4 Richard Wheatley (Bingley St Ives) 145 (75, 70), 5 Nathan Rogers (Wortley) 145 (73, 72).