PAUL CARMAN hit winning form in the PGA North Region pro-am at Werneth, firing a season’s best five under par 63.

He shared top spot with Barry Taylor, from Houghwood, both earning £505.

But when chasing the big fish in the Virgin Atlantic PGA National Pro-Am Championship regional final at Fulford, where he teamed with Fixby greenkeeper Ben Turner, they came up just short.

Turner, a six handicapper, earned his place in the big SkyCaddie-supported event by winning his club’s qualifying competition.

Carman and Turner posted a creditable five under par 67, making four birdies plus an eagle at the par five last, while dropping a lone shot at the 486yards 13th, rated a par four and Fulford’s toughest hole.

The Fixby pair came up two shots short of a stab at the big prize of an all expenses paid trip to the Bahamas for the final of the tournament on November 23-28. That went to Pannal pro David Padgett and his partner Jonathan Honeysett, a banker, who after an early start set the clubhouse pace on seven under then endured a six-hour wait to find out if they had made it to the grand final where a £5,000 first prize is on offer for the professional.

Carman and Turner put in a strong finish with a run of four under over the last four holes but had to settle for a joint sixth place, while Lincolnshire pair Andrew Miller and Robert Burton, from Ashby Decoy, made a late charge to tie then lost out to Pannal in a card play-off.

Werneth leading scores:

63 - P Carman (Huddersfield), B Taylor (Houghwood). 64 - A Wainwright (Mid Yorkshire). 65 - S Parry (NW Academy). Others included: 68 - R Johnson (Saddleworth). 71 - D Astin (Woodsome Hall).