RISING Ryedale golfer David Hague is celebrating a wonderful 2017 after capping his season with a stunning success in the North of England Open Amateur Championship.

The Malton & Norton Golf Club amateur ace topped a high-quality field of 111 players in this major end-of-season tournament - the final event on the 2017 England Golf Order of Merit - held at Alwoodley GC on the outskirts of Leeds.

In difficult weather conditions, and on a challenging course - the championship tees here comprise a par-71 round over 6,900 yards in all - Hague finished his four rounds on 285, just one over par, to win by two shots from Darlington GC's Andrew Wilson.

The points earned left the England amateur international fifth overall in the final England Order of Merit table, the highest-placed Yorkshireman, to cement his reputation as one of the country’s brightest amateur prospects.

Hague carded an excellent level-par first round of 71 on a very blustery opening day at Alwoodley when the course scratch score rocketed to 77 due to the winds

Nick Poppleton from Wath GC led after a terrific three-under 68, with Fulford GC's James Cass the only other player to finish under par.

Poppleton was unable to hit the same heady heights in round two but a battling round of 73 meant he retained his lead, albeit now one just shot ahead of Hague, who showed great consistency in recording another level-par 71.

One shot further back on 143 was Wakefield GC's Phil Tomkinson after a round of 71.

Cass, meanwhile, fell off the pace after a round of 77 but still made the cut, which came at a mark of 151, with only the top 32 progressing to the last day.

Round three began on a sunny morning but with a biting wind.

Poppleton shot a solid level-par 71, while George Bloor, from Cavendish GC, took the course apart with a six-under-par 65 to come into contention.

Hague, though, seized the initiative to take the lead after recording a two-under-par 69, to go one shot ahead of Poppleton.

Bloor and the consistent Callan Barrow, of Royal Lytham & St Annes, were only one more shot in arrears.

However, in the final round later in the same day, Poppleton, Bloor and Barrow all faded, with Hague, despite a three-over-par 74, keeping his nose in front for his total of 285.

Wilson posted a one-under-par round of 70, his second of the day, to come through and take runner-up spot on 287.

A great round of 68 from Harry Goddard, of Hanbury Manor GC in Hertfordshire, propelled him into third spot on 288, the same mark as fourth-placed Poppleton and Bloor in fifth.

In additional to the North of England Open title, Hague, alongside Poppleton, lifted the County Plate for Yorkshire, the trophy being on offer for the two golfers from the same county who recorded the lowest aggregate score over 72 holes.

The double success capped a year in which Hague represented England at home and abroad and won the Lagonda Trophy at Gog Magog GC, when he finished just one shot short of a championship record, and the York Rose Bowl at The York GC.

He was also runner-up in the West of England Strokeplay Championship, the Yorkshire Amateur Matchplay Championship at Hallamshire GC and in the Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs’ Amateur Championship at the Cleveland GC.

He also finished third in the Berkshire Trophy and reached the last 32 in the English Amateur Championship.