VICTORY looked unlikely at one stage but West Bradford golfer Dane Bairstow roared back in his final round to claim the trophy at the prestigious Bradford Amateur Strokeplay event on his home course.

The former professional won the title for the second time thanks to a one-under 68, which featured four birdies in the last 10 holes.

It was the only under-par round of the tournament and saw him come from the pack after an opening 73 to pip Shipley’s Dan Thomas and Northcliffe’s Mark Cook by one shot on three over.

Bairstow admitted that he plays his best golf when he has nothing to lose and said: “After the first round I was four-over par and it was the same when I won it in 2011.

“When I’m leading after the first round it often goes the other way and I let my guard down. When I’m a few shots back I tend to go for it and play my best golf.

“In the second round, I made a triple-bogey on the eighth hole and lost my ball. That put me seven-over overall.

“But from there I went bogey-free and made four birdies in the last 10 holes. I had nothing to lose and it was nice that it paid off.”

Bairstow also won the tournament seven years ago but he preferred Sunday’s success, explaining: “I felt like my golf was going the wrong way until I won this, so it means a lot more to me.

“I’ve just changed coaches and I travel up to Wynyard to see a guy called Andrew Nicholson.

“It’s clicking now so it feels as if I’m getting the rewards. Travelling two hours to go and see him is paying dividends.”

The champion admitted that playing on his home course at West Bradford gave him an advantage. He said: “It always helps. I know the course has been playing quite firm and bouncy.

“You need to play a lot of links style shots where you have to land them short and run them up.

“A lot of people were trying to play it all the way and I saw balls bouncing through greens constantly.”

Bairstow laughed when recalling the last West Bradford golfer to claim the Amateur Strokeplay title on home soil.

He said: “I think the last person to do that was Richard Ellis (in 1997).

“He won in a play-off but he didn’t think he was going to be in one.

“He went into the bar, had a few pints, then they told him he was in a play-off. He still won though!”

Bairstow will play for Bradford Golf Union on Sunday against Inter-District League heavyweights Sheffield at Bradford GC.

Martin Gaffney’s men beat Teesside in their opening fixture and another win at the weekend would see them emerge as title contenders.

Bradford Amateur Strokeplay results: 1 D Bairstow (West Bradford) 141 (73, 68), 2 D Thomas (Shipley) 142 (72, 70) 3 M Cook (Northcliffe) 142 (70, 72) 4 P Dempsey (West Bradford) 143 (74, 69) 5 B Rhodes (Woodhall Hills) 143 (73, 70) 6 P Gavin (West Bradford) 143 (71, 72) 7 T Brushwood (Bingley St Ives) 143 (71, 72) 8 J Clements (Northcliffe) 148 (76, 72) 9 O Tasker (Cleckheaton) 148 (72, 76) 10 C Musgrave (West Bradford) 149 (77, 72) 11 M Morrison (Shipley) 149 (76, 73) 12 D Brook (West Bradford) 149 (73, 76).