Cleckheaton’s Nigel Colbeck held his nerve to win the Hawksworth Trophy at the fourth hole of a sudden-death play-off.

The plus-one handicapper edged out in-form Huddersfield player Nick Marsh to claim his first Yorkshire Order of Merit title after the pair had finished level on three-under-par after two rounds.

The duo played the first three extra holes at Bradford Golf Club in level par before Marsh – an England under-18 squad member who recently won the Yorkshire Boys' Amateur title – dropped a shot at the 17th to hand Colbeck the crown.

The Cleckheaton ace said: “I was nervous in the play-off but I felt like I was the underdog, and that helped.

“Nick has had such a good year, and I don’t think he has finished outside the top three in his first eight events.

“I have won the Leeds Amateur but this is possibly my best win. It is one of the most prestigious events on the Order of Merit.”

Colbeck, who carded rounds of 68 and 71, was all the more pleased with his victory after returning from injury sooner than expected.

He had an operation on his shoulder in February after suffering third-degree burns to his shoulder in a domestic accident and had not expected to play until August.

Colbeck’s Bradford Union team-mates Ben Mountain (70, 70) and Will Whiteoak (72, 69) finished third and fourth respectively.

All three are in the Bradford side for the match against Sheffield at Hallam on Sunday. The Manor’s Andy Smith makes his debut.

Bradford Union v Sheffield: Matthew Atter (Bradford), Darryl Berry (Bingley St. Ives), Terry Brushwood (Bingley St. Ives), Nigel Colbeck (Cleckheaton), Mark Evans (Bingley St. Ives), Andy Fitzpatrick (Keighley), Calum Hey (Keighley), Rob Hillas (Bingley St. Ives), Ben Mountain (Bradford), Andy Smith (The Manor), Will Whiteoak (Bingley St. Ives), Oliver Young (Bingley St. Ives). Travelling reserve: Ben Cheetham (South Bradford).