THE Bradford Golf Union’s Amateur Matchplay competition, one of its most prestigious, is down to its final two.

And on what will be a historic occasion later this month, it will be contested between two brothers, Paddy and Oliver Young, both of Northcliffe Golf Club.

Paddy is in cracking form, and his win over supremely-talented 14-year-old Harry Phillips on Monday means he joins his younger sibling in the final at Cleckheaton on Sunday, September 17.

Both spoke to the T&A ahead of the showpiece, with Paddy saying; “We said to each other at the start of the tournament that it could happen, with us being on opposite sides of the draw.

“I know Oliver’s game inside out because I had a torn shoulder that meant I didn’t play for three years, so I caddied for him when he was a pro.

“But we’ve played enough with each other growing up anyway to know all that.

“We’ve faced each other in scratch cup matches before but never in a final so it should be really good.”

Paddy won the Hudson Cup and Munro Scratch at Northcliffe last month, and said: “I broke my foot in April, so I was eight weeks behind everyone else and it’s only now I’m hitting the form I’d normally reach in June or July.

“They’re big competitions, the Munro and Hudson, and winning them has got my name on the board in the clubhouse at Northcliffe for the first time.

“It’s been a decent few weeks and I should be where I want to be in a fortnight to face Oliver.

“He’s a good player our kid, so I’ll need all my game to win.

“I really wanted to win the Munro and Hudson and back that up with the Amateur Matchplay, so I’m partway there now.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Paddy Young (left) is in a rich vein of form, and is aiming to pull off the treble he wants.Paddy Young (left) is in a rich vein of form, and is aiming to pull off the treble he wants. (Image: Northcliffe Golf Club.)

Oliver is not going to roll over and let his brother win though, and said: “It’ll be exciting to face Paddy and it should be quite fun.

“He’s always been a good player but he’s in real form, so it’ll be tougher than ever to beat him.

“We’re both going to want bragging rights within the family too.”

Oliver has beaten top players in the Union like Rob Molloy and Darren Rands to reach the final, saying: “It’s been a hard run.

“I know Rob well as he’s at Northcliffe like me, and I knew Darren would be tough.

“I’ve only played against him once and beat him in a final, but he battered me for the first three holes in our quarter-final so I had to claw it back.

“It’s good to be in the final after winning my semi last Tuesday.”

Reflecting on his season, Oliver said: “I’ve not had the best of seasons in strokeplay, but it’s been my best ever in matchplay.

“I’ve only lost once or twice all season in that format, though one was on the final day of the scratch league and it cost Northcliffe the title, which was gutting.

“It’ll certainly be fun to see who wins out of Paddy and I in this final.”

In team competition, The Manor Golf Club from Drighlington won the Champion Club competition last Sunday, edging out Bradford Moor by one stroke.