HAWORTH golfer Will Whiteoak ensured Yorkshire claimed outright victory in overcoming Hampshire to get their hands back on the English Men's County Championship trophy.

The Shipley member won the last singles match to give the white rose team a 5½-3½ edge on the final day at Sandwell Park in Staffordshire.

Three wins out of three sealed their 21st county crown but it was the first time Yorkshire, who are captained by Bingley St Ives member Darryl Berry, have been champions for nine years.

Yorkshire Order of Merit winner Kealan Lowe claimed the point to secure the title, taking them to 4½ to guarantee at least a draw and success on points countback.

But Yorkshire and their big contingent of supporters wanted an outright win and were determined to get at least one more point.

Hampshire won the next three singles and Yorkshire's hopes of that extra point were pinned on the close match between Whiteoak and Hampshire captain Martin Young.

Whiteoak held a one-hole advantage for most of the back nine, helped by holing a monster putt for a half on 14. He held on to that slender lead, holing a good ten-footer on the last to finish 1up.

Berry said: "We wanted to win outright and that's why I put Will at the back. He's a pressure man and he brings it home every time."

Former Oakbank pupil Whiteoak also won his foursomes match with Wheatley partner Ben Brewster by the same margin as Yorkshire clinched 2½ of the three available points in the morning pairs.

"That was massive," said Berry, who has previously played in two winning sides.

"This is great for the team and for all our supporters. It's been a brilliant team effort and the lads have been great."

Whiteoak enjoyed success in Yorkshire's other two matches, shooting a bogey-free round to thrash Matthew Richards 6&5 as Berry's men came from behind to beat Cornwall 5½-3½.

He claimed a half in his singles during the 7-2 win over Warwickshire after teaming up with Ben Hutchinson of Howley Hall to win 5&3 in the foursomes.

* Cleckheaton duo Olivia Hamilton and Megan Clarke were in the Yorkshire team that lost a final-day decider 5-4 to Gloucestershire in the English Women's County finals at Waterlooville Golf Club in Hampshire.

Yorkshire had beaten Staffordshire 7-2, Surrey 5½-3½, Buckinghamshire 7-2 and Norfolk 6½-2½ to set up the winner-takes-all clash with fellow unbeaten side Gloucestershire.

Hamilton won three singles and a foursomes during the week, while Clarke won two foursomes and halved a singles.