THE Bradford Golf Union suffered a frustrating 20-16 defeat to Harrogate in their opening Yorkshire Inter-District Union Senior League Championship game of the season.

The fixture was held at Keighley Golf Club, and Bradford looked well set after the morning foursomes, holding a 7-5 lead.

The hosts made a bright start in the afternoon singles too, winning four and drawing one of the opening eight matches on the card.

But they lost all of the last four, as Harrogate turned things around at the last.

Bradford Union captain Andrew Busfield said: “Unfortunately, Harrogate’s singles performance was just too strong for us in the end.

“But Adam Charles made his Bradford debut and had a solid foursomes win alongside Iain Walker.

“Keighley was in fantastic condition, so big thanks to them for producing that course.

“We had fantastic service all day from the bar and catering staff too.”

Those post-game drinks looked like they would taste extra sweet when Zac Gartland and Dale Brook won the opening foursomes match 2&1, before James Darcy and Harry Phillips ended the second game one up for the hosts.

Harrogate hit back to win the next two, but Walker and Charles stormed to a 6&4 victory, before Josh Carlos and Ben Davy ended the final foursomes match all square with their opponents.

Gartland (Northcliffe) and Darcy (Bingley St Ives) won 3&2 and 3&1 respectively to give Bradford a superb start to the singles competition.

But the home side only managed to take a point from the next four games on the card, as Darren Rands (Bradford) finished his game level, while Phillips (Bingley St Ives), Dale Brook (West Bradford) and Oliver Tasker (South Bradford) all lost.

A 2&1 victory for captain Busfield (South Bradford) steadied the ship, as did a 6&4 success for his clubmate Archie Rowntree.

That meant Bradford needed just one victory from the final four singles matches to claim a point from this opening fixture, while two would have seen them beat Harrogate.

But crucially, the impressive Walker was edged out in his game, the fourth-last one on the card.

Charles was well beaten in his match, while defeats for Davey and Carlos sealed a wonderful comeback from the visitors.

It completed a disappointing start to the 2023 Yorkshire Inter-District Union season for Bradford, who had been hoping to bounce back after coming second-bottom last year.

Their next league game is away from home, as they take on East Riding at Hornsea Golf Club on Sunday, June 11.

East Riding finished as runners-up to Sheffield in last year’s league, having started out with an opening-day win over Bradford, beating them 20-16 at Skipton Golf Club.