SIMPLY the best! That’s the apt description of Andrew Whitworth’s Page Trophy victory in the final Halifax, Huddersfield Alliance competition of the season.

The 30-year-old Bradley Hall champion and course record holder outstripped everyone for the prestigious prize, including all the area’s top professionals.

He carded a four-under total of 134 at the joint venues of West End and Ogden to become the first scratch golfer to win the competition since Huddersfield professional Johnny Fallon won the trophy exactly 40 years ago.

“I thought I’d blown it a couple of times”, said Whitworth, who posted a two-under par 68 at Ogden and a two-under par 66 at West End.

“I seemed to have my game in control and then suddenly a couple of shots would be lost to par,” said the new trophy holder who, like the remainder of the 160-plus competitors, started his campaign in dense fog and ended it in bright sunshine.

Whitworth’s major hiccup at Ogden was at the 17th where his tee-shot finished wide of the green and he took three more to hole out, while at West End he was four-under par at the turn, but dropped two shots at the 11th.

Nevertheless, Whitworth, the current Halifax, Huddersfield Union champion, who has won most of the club and Union trophies on offer in the district with his meticulous golf, was still head and shoulders above the rest although Mike Anderton (Halifax) came within a shot of the title.

Had Anderton not dropped three shots over the last three holes at West End, Whitworth’s celebrations would have been short-lived. However, Anderton also began with a double bogey six at Ogden and posted scores of 68, 67 for a total of 135.

Bradley Park captain John Woods 64, 72 and ex-Marsden captain Dennis Walters 71, 65 shared third spot on 136, while Stuart Lee (Huddersfield) was out on his own on 137 with scores of 68, 69.

Former Huddersfield club director Martin Devey was well in contention when his opening salvo of a four-under par 66 at Ogden made him the clubhouse leader. But the 15-handicapper had a 77 at West End to finish on 143.

Bradley Park assistant Andrew Taylor won the Colin Swain Trophy for the highest-placed professional.

He beat fellow club assistant Jim Crompton on a card count after both players ended the competition on 139.