White hot Teejay on his way to Alwoodley

White (left) supported by father Paul who caddied

Rotherham Golf Club have a long and illustrious record of producing golfers of the highest calibre, and after the Yorkshire regional final of the 2011 Northern Matchplay Golf Championship, it looks like they may have another one on the cards.

The South Yorkshire club can account for the upbringing of several young amateurs through the amateur ranks, many of which have gone on to turn professional and compete at the highest level, the most notable being Danny Willett. The Thrybergh club have dominated county golf for a number of years and it looks as though a new name may soon be added to their enviable list of top golfers.

Teejay White made his mark on the Northern Matchplay when he defeated Queensbury's Karl Smith in the title decider for the White Rose section of the season-long amateur competition for golfers in the North of England.

White (4 hcp) had earlier in the day accounted for Garforth's David Williams in the semi-final with a flurry of birdies to set up a 5&4 victory. After lunch he took on three-handicapper Smith, a 3&1 morning winner over Catterick's Andrew Lincoln, and showed a level of golf and composure above and beyond his 17 years of age.

So close for Queensbury's Smith

In the afternoon contest, with a place in the grand final at The Alwoodley Golf Club up for grabs, both players traded blows throughout the front nine and after the eleventh they could still not be split. 

As the match edged towards the closing stretch it looked as though White, a sixth form student, had gained the upper-hand when he won the 12th and 13th to lead by two with five to play. But Smith hit back with a birdie at the 14th then clinched the next to level the tie once again.

When the players turned for home the wind strengthened making the final three holes very difficult as all play directly into the wind. 

The par five 16th was shared in par when respective birdie putts just slipped by before the crucial moment on the par three 17th. Into a howling gale both players missed the green right but it was White who was able to recover the better and claim the hole to stand on the 18th tee one-up.

A cracking final played in a great spirit

Two fine drives found the fairway and with Smith to play first he put the pressure on by hitting the green, albeit a long way short of the tricky back-right pin. It looked like White had blown his chance when he missed the green and played a weak pitch 25-feet short of the pin. Smith putted up to a few feet and appeared that he would have that to take the game to extra holes but White rolled in his lengthy putt to win by one-hole.

The Rotherham Boys Champion will now go up against the winners from other regional finals from across the North of England at Alwoodley on the 28th & 29th September when the top prize on offer is a golf holiday to Spain thanks to main sponsor Golf de la Luz.

White, who is currently taking driving lessons but has not yet passed his test, was supported by his father who acted as caddy all day and his grandfather Malcolm (Mank) who often drives him to events.

In the play-off for 3rd place Williams beat Lincoln.

The final two regional finals take place this week at West Lancs (Lancashire) and Wallasey (Cheshire).

The photo gallery from Pannal can be seen here whilst a small gallery of the course can be found here.