NIGEL Colbeck revealed a borrowed putter from his club captain had helped him win the Bradford 36-Hole Amateur Championship.

The Cleckheaton golfer clinched the title for the first time thanks to four consecutive birdies down the final straight at Bingley St Ives.

That was enough to see him win his first Bradford Union individual crown by one shot from host player Terry Brushwood.

And Colbeck had Cleckheaton captain Mark Vertigans to thank for lending him a putter which helped him produce the goods on the green.

He said: "I'd been playing well but not holing putts and not getting a score together but it all fell into place at Bingley.

"I was telling our captain that I needed something a bit heavier to putt with and he said he had a spare Scotty Cameron in his locker.

"I've had it for about a month and it feels fantastic. It really stood me in good stead on Sunday."

Colbeck's borrowed club helped him post a four-under total, following up a morning 68 with an afternoon 70 in warm conditions.

He joked: "Mark's been telling me he wants it back but I've told him he can't have it!"

An eagle three at the par five second got his day off to a great start and, though a bogey at the fifth set him back, birdies at the eighth and ninth saw him go out in a three under 33.

He consolidated that with a level-par back nine but it looked like his chance had gone when he carded four bogeys in an outward 39 during his second round.

However, he got his head back together and birdies at holes 13, 14, 15 and 16 saw him come back in 31, which proved enough.

Brushwood had set the halfway pace with a first-round 67 but three bogeys on his second outward nine meant he had to settle for runner-up, while a bogey at the last cost Bradford's Richard Wheatley second spot.

Colbeck has already won two Yorkshire Order of Merit titles, including Bradford's Hawksworth Trophy, but admitted he was thrilled to claim his first major trophy in his own district.

He said: "I'm over the moon. It's a massive confidence boost and it's great to put Cleckheaton on the map.

"I want to give special mention to my caddy Robert Hardaker, who has supported me all the way."

Two holes in one were scored on the day, with James Tate (Bradford) hitting an ace on the 18th and home player Matt Eagle on the tenth.

Colbeck will now turn his focus to the Bradford Union team, who are hoping to follow up their opening win at Halifax/Huddersfield when they welcome Harrogate to West Bradford on Sunday.