Non-league footballer Andy Lee proved his talent in a different sport as he was crowned the inaugural Yorkshire Matchplay individual golf champion.

The former Bradford City and Bradford Park Avenue player, who is a member at Northcliffe, won the new event after beating Birley Wood’s Paul Clarkson 6&5 in the final at Alwoodley.

The five-handicapper won several matches to reach the finals day in a competition which started back in April and attracted more than 300 entrants.

After battling through local rounds and then winning his regional final earlier this month by defeating Howley Hall’s Charles Turner in the two-legged affair, Lee faced Scarborough North Cliff’s Tony Brown in the first of the morning semi-finals.

There was nothing to split the two players for the first 15 holes but a birdie down the 16th by Lee saw him seize the advantage and he went on to secure victory on the 17th green for a 2&1 win.

Lee said: “We played some really good golf in the semi-final when there were seven or eight birdies.

“The final was close to begin with but then he became a bit wayward and I managed to keep it straight.”

Lee was part of the Northcliffe junior side who enjoyed Home Nations Junior Team title success representing England at La Manga a decade ago.

And he said: “I’m over the moon to win this new event. It’s the biggest thing I’ve won since La Manga.”

To cap off a great week for the multi-talented 28-year-old, he also impressed at his other favourite sport, scoring for Silsden in their win over Congleton last week. He is currently on loan at the Keighley outfit from parent club Frickley Athletic.

Meanwhile, Wheatley’s Ben Ryland and Ashley Ibbotson landed the pairs title after beating Skipton’s Andrew Knowles and Jeremy Harding in a gripping final.

The Dales club duo, who had come from one down at the last to win on the second extra play-off hole in the semi-finals, trailed by two holes at the turn.

But birdies at the tenth and 11th – which Knowles almost aced – made it all-square.

Harding made it a third birdie in a row for the pair at the next to put them one up but the Wheatley duo were level again by the 14th and went dormi two up before shaking hands on the 17th.

Entries are now open for the 2010/11 Yorkshire Matchplay Winter Pairs knockout competition, with a finals day planned for the 1929 Ryder Cup venue, Moortown Golf Club.

An entry form is available at www.yorkshirematchplay.com, with the cost just £20 per pair, limited to the first 128 couples.