Oliver Tasker is used to team success with South Bradford Golf Club, but he enjoyed a golden moment of his own on Sunday.
He played superbly to win his first Bradford Open, finishing on three under par to beat Terry Brushwood by three strokes.
It also ended Richard Wheatley’s run of three Bradford Open titles, as the Bradford Golf Club ace could only manage to come sixth on home soil over 36 holes.
Discussing his triumph with the T&A, Tasker said: “It wasn’t easy on Sunday.
“Credit to Bradford Golf Club, they’d set the course up brilliantly, but they’d made it tricky, with tough pin positions and very fast greens.
“It wasn’t easy to score there but thankfully I finished very strongly, with three birdies in the last three holes.
“I was in the perfect position heading out for my final round, as other scores were coming in and I was able to go under the radar as the forgotten man.”
For context, Tasker’s first round of 70 left him joint-fourth, behind leader Huey Cunningham, who hit a superb 68, as well as Wheatley and Archie Rowntree, who both went round in 69.
The South Bradford star said: “Young Huey and Archie played brilliantly in the first round and they’re exceptionally talented lads who’ll go on to have success.
“Then you had Richard, who’s the Bradford Open’s main man, and he was on his home course.
Richard Wheatley celebrated a Bradford Open treble last year at Skipton Golf Club, but he could not quite make it four in a row. (Image: UGC.)
“At the halfway stage, everyone was looking at those three rather than me.”
Tasker admitted this individual triumph in Bradford’s blue-riband golf tournament means a lot, saying: “It’s been a long time coming.
“I’ve played in the Bradford Open for several years now and I’d come close on occasion before, but never won it.
“It’s a good feeling, because while I’ve had individual success elsewhere, to win something like this in Bradford is a big thing.
“It backs up the success we’ve had at South Bradford and the work we all put in on the Bradford Union inter-district team.”
Tasker was part of the South Bradford side who won the 9-Hole Clubs Team Championship by a massive 18 strokes back in May, while he and regular playing partner Andy Busfield are the reigning Inter-Club Foursomes Matchplay champions.
They also came second by one stroke last month as they narrowly failed to defend the Inter-Club Fourball Championship they won in 2023.
Asked why South Bradford have been so successful of late, Tasker said: “It’s relaxed and friendly down there, with a good atmosphere.
“The course there lends itself to good golf too, as there’s real value to keeping yourself in play on the fairway, which is a useful skill to have anywhere.
“There’s good camaraderie too, with the team captain and club professional always showing their support for me.”
As for his potent partnership with Busfield, Tasker said: “Andy and I have played together a lot, and there’s been a lot of good and bad golf in that.
“But we know each other and each other’s game well, both through our club partnership and the fact he’s our playing captain on the inter-district team.
“Long may our partnership continue together.”
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